World No. 1 Jannik Sinner cleared of doping violations after proving accidental contamination, vows to move past the ordeal and focus on future competitions.
Top-ranked player Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any fault or negligence regarding two anti-doping violations that occurred in March.
Shortly after clinching his first grand-slam title at the Australian Open in January, the Italian tennis star tested positive twice for clostebol, a banned anabolic agent that enhances muscle growth.
However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Sinner's explanation that the substance had inadvertently entered his body through a product used by one of his team members to treat a minor wound.
An independent tribunal has ruled 'No Fault or Negligence' in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner.
— International Tennis Integrity Agency (@itia_tennis) August 20, 2024
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of ITIA, remarked: 'We treat any positive test with utmost seriousness and adhere to the stringent protocols established by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency).
'The ITIA conducted a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the positive tests, with full cooperation from Mr. Sinner and his team.
'Following this investigation, the ITIA accepted the player's explanation regarding the source of the clostebol and determined that its presence was unintentional. This conclusion was also endorsed by the tribunal.'
Sinner, who recently won the Cincinnati title in preparation for the upcoming US Open, first tested positive on March 10 during the Indian Wells competition.
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) August 20, 2024
He was flagged again in an out-of-competition test eight days later, with both samples showing trace levels of clostebol. Nonetheless, he continued competing on the ATP Tour after successfully challenging a provisional suspension.
Scientific experts consulted by the ITIA found Sinner's account credible, noting that his physiotherapist had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his skin from March 5 to 13.
In a statement, Sinner expressed: 'I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me.
'I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I comply with the ITIA's anti-doping programme, and my team is also vigilant about maintaining strict compliance.'
