According to Laura Scott of the British Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday, the World Anti-Doping Agency has come to a settlement with world men’s tennis number one Jannik Sinner of Italy. Sinner will be suspended three months for testing positive for the banned substance clostebol during the Indian Wells tennis tournament last year.
Initially, the International Tennis Integrity Agency did not give Sinner a suspension. His penalty was losing the 400 points and an expectation to return $325,000 for reaching the semifinals of Indian Wells in 2024.
Sinner tested positive for clostebol twice. The first time during Indian Wells last year and the second time was out of competition shortly after the Indian Wells tennis tournament. Sinner states he got clostebol into his system because it was inadvertently injected through a spray during a massage by his physiotherapist.
Many people believe Sinner received a light sentence. Initially when Sinner was not suspended at all, 2022 Wimbledon finalist and Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios expressed heavy criticism. He originally stated on X, ““Ridiculous–whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance…you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…Yeah nice.” Then on Saturday, Kyrgios stated, “So wada come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.” Sinner will be eligible to return to the Italian Open, where he will have the opportunity to play a Masters 1000 series event in his own country.
For FREE!
