Jannik Sinner handed doping sanction but avoids ban after two positive tests for banned substance
Jannik Sinner has received a sanction after twice testing positive for a prohibited substance, but he has escaped a ban after it was ruled he bears “no fault or negligence.”
The world No 1 will lose all the ranking points and prize money he earned at the Indian Wells Masters in March as he tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, during and after the tournament.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed low levels of a metabolite of clostebol were detected in an in-competition sample Sinner provided on 10 March 2024 in Indian Wells. A second sample, taken out of competition on March 18, also tested positive for clostebol.
A provisional suspension was applied to Sinner after each positive test, but the 23-year-old Italian was allowed to continue playing after successfully appealing to an independent tribunal chair on both occasions.
As clostebol is categorised as a non-specified substance, a positive test for the steroid carries an automatic provisional suspension under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC). Clostebol is an anabolic agent prohibited “at all times” under Section S1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
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In a statement, the ITIA revealed that Sinner explained the substance had entered his system “as a result of contamination from a support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray (available in Italy) containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound.”
The statement continued: “That support team member applied the spray between 5 and 13 March, during which time they also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in unknowing transdermal contamination.
“Following consultation with scientific experts, who concluded that the player’s explanation was credible, the ITIA did not oppose the player’s appeals to lift the provisional suspensions. ”
The ITIA’s investigation concluded with a hearing overseen by Sports Resolutions on August 15, where the independent tribunal determined a finding of “No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility.”
In line with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), Sinner will lose the 400 ATP Ranking points and $325,000 in prize money he gained for reaching the semi-finals in Indian Wells.
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the ITIA, said: “We take any positive test extremely seriously and will always apply the rigorous processes set out by WADA. The ITIA carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the positive tests with which Mr Sinner and his representatives fully co-operated.
“Following that investigation, the ITIA accepted the player’s explanation as to the source of the clostebol and that the presence of the substance was not intentional. This was also accepted by the tribunal.
“We thank the independent tribunal for the speed and clarity of its decision in relation to the player’s degree of fault.”
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