Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month suspension in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and he said Saturday that this agreement ends a case that had been “hanging over me” since his two positive doping tests almost a year ago.
WADA had been trying to ban Sinner for at least one year, after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) decided not to suspend him. The ITIA ruled that Sinner’s positive tests were due to accidental contamination from a banned anabolic steroid last March.
Sinner explained that small amounts of Clostebol were found in his sample because of a massage from his trainer, who had used the substance after cutting his finger. The ITIA accepted his explanation.
This timing means the 23-year-old Italian will not miss any Grand Slam tournaments, including the French Open, which starts on May 25.
“This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Sinner said in a statement.
“I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”
WADA had appealed the ITIA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, but it has now withdrawn the appeal.
“WADA accepts the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision. WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat, and that his exposure to Clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage,” WADA said in its statement.
“However,” WADA added, “under the code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome.”
WADA confirmed that it did not seek to disqualify any of Sinner’s results except for the ones affected by the decision of the initial tribunal.
The International Tennis Federation and ITIA, which were both involved in WADA’s appeal, accepted the settlement.
The ATP Tour mentioned WADA’s confirmation that Sinner “had no intent to violate anti-doping rules and gained no competitive advantage.”
Jannik Sinner plays the return shot“This case is an important reminder of players’ responsibility to carefully manage the products and treatments they or their entourages use,” the ATP added in a statement.
On Friday, Sinner posted a video on Instagram of himself training in Doha ahead of the Qatar Open, which starts next week. He is also scheduled to play in an exhibition in Las Vegas next month.
His suspension will run from February 9 to May 4. Sinner could return to action at the Italian Open in Rome, which begins May 7.
Italian Tennis and Padel Federation president Angelo Binaghi called the case “a shameful injustice” but said the suspension would mark “the end of a nightmare” for Sinner.
Binaghi added that the settlement “demonstrates Jannik’s innocence” and that “all of Italy” will welcome him back at the Italian Open.
The ITIA stated that it accepted the settlement and repeated that Sinner’s breach was unintentional. “Today’s outcome supports this finding,” the ITIA said.
Sinner’s lawyer, Jamie Singer, commented: “I am delighted that Jannik can finally put this harrowing experience behind him. WADA has confirmed the facts determined by the Independent Tribunal. It is clear that Jannik had no intent, no knowledge, and gained no competitive advantage. Regrettably, errors made by members of his team led to this situation.”
Sinner’s case raised questions about double standards. The positive tests weren’t publicly revealed until August because Sinner had successfully appealed against a provisional ban. He later won the U.S. Open in September. Novak Djokovic agreed that there is “a lack of consistency.”
In late November, Iga Swiatek, the world No. 2, accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. The ITIA accepted her explanation that it was unintentional.
Currently, Sinner leads No. 2 Alexander Zverev by 3,695 points in the singles rankings.
Sinner will lose 1,600 points due to the suspension: 1,000 points from winning the Miami Open last March, 400 points from reaching the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals last April, and 200 points from reaching the Madrid Open quarterfinals.
If Zverev wins several titles while Sinner is out, the German could take over the No. 1 ranking.
