It was looking as if Jannik Sinner had weathered the storm, but the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) had other ideas as they fought to get a three-month ban issued.
The saga has been ongoing for almost a year, dating back to two defining drugs tests at the tournament in Indian Wells back in March. Sinner, only months after winning the Australian Open and rising to World No 1, failed them both.
Initially Sinner, whose was playing as the issue continued to hang over him, looked as if his explanation was going to see him dodge any potential ban. That is despite other individuals, including women’s star Iga Swiatek, having to cop bans for using banned substances, no matter the level of negligence.
WADA though appealed the decision to let Sinner get off, almost, scot free. The Italian had to miss out on any ranking points he gained from Indian Wells, but otherwise was allowed to play on.
He would win the US Open in New York six months after his two positive tests in California. He’s gone on to defend his title in Australian, meaning he’s won three of the past five Grand Slams.
It all comes back to an anabolic steroid called clostebol. It can be found in sprays sold over the counter in some countries, such as Italy, and is used to treat cuts or scrapes. This is how Sinner allowed it to enter his body.
The problem for him is it is considered a performance enhancer, and several athletes in various sports have been suspended after testing positive. An extreme case saw one player receive an 80-game ban from Major League Baseball in 2022.
Sinner submitted a urine sample which showed traces of clostebol. An out-of-competition sample eight days later also tested positive.
Sinner’s lawyers stated that his fitness trainer purchased a spray which was then used to help his physio, Giocomo Naldi, treat a minor cut on his finger. Naldi regularly massaged Sinner during the Indian Wells tournament, without wearing gloves.
Sinner’s lawyers went on to state that because the Italian had “various skin lesions” on his body due to a skin condition called psoriasiform dermatitis the spray must have passed from the physio’s hands through to Sinner and caused the “inadvertent contamination”.
The ITIA, which handles anti-doping and anti-corruption investigations for the sport, accepted his explanation. They said they conducted a “thorough investigation” involving “multiple in-depth interviews” with Sinner and his support team.
It sought the expertise of three anti-doping experts and passed the case to an independent tribunal to review the details of the case. A hearing was convened in August, which found that Sinner was not negligent and not at fault, which allowed him to continue playing.
The noise surrounding his participation continued though and the Italian told reporters: “I know this year has been very, very difficult for me because of other circumstances and at points I lost my smile a little bit because I had some issues off the court, and then they’re still in my mind sometimes.”
WADA were not satisfied with the ITIA’s end result and they took their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They’ve now reached a settlement with the Italian which will see him banned for three months – a period that will span from February 9 until May 4.
They accept that the three-time Grand Slam champion “did not intend to cheat” and that the drug “did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit”. They also add that this happened “without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage”.
WADA went on to state: “However, 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.”
Sinner has owned the decisions taken by his team and will now sit on the sidelines for a prolonged period. He said: “This case had been hanging over me 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. I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise 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.”
The decision not to originally sanction Sinner following the positive tests has been criticised on social media by a number of players including Australian Nick Kyrgios, Britain’s Liam Broady and Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
Former British No 1 Tim Henman was left unimpressed by the ban however. Sinner will return just in time to play the French Open – one of the two Grand Slams he’s yet to win. Wimbledon will come soon after that.
Henman said a greater stance needed to be taken as he claimed: “When I read this statement this morning it just seems a little bit too convenient. Obviously having just won the Australian Open, to miss three months of the Tour and therefore to be eligible to play at Roland Garros, the timing couldn’t have been any better for Sinner, but I still think it leaves a pretty sour taste for the sport. When you’re dealing with drugs in sport it very much has to be black and white.”
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