Italian tennis player Jannick Sinner has been banned for three-months from the sports after he twice tested positive for a banned substance. The suspension follows an agreement entered between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Sinner, whereby he accepted the ban for an anti-doping rule violation that led to him testing positive for Clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024. WADA had lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after sinner wasn’t found guilty by an Independent Tribunal. The agency said it accepts the world number one player’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision. “WADA accepts that Sinner didn’t 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. 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. As previously stated, WADA did not seek a disqualification of any results, save that which was previously imposed by the tribunal of first instance,” read a statement from WADA. Sinner had argued that the amounts of Clostebol found in his system, was a result of an over-the-counter cream or spray called Trofodermin, which was used by his medical team to heal a cut on his own hand. Sinner, who last month won the Australian Open, said this treatment led to the transferral of Clostebol into his system.The Italian said he accepted WADA’s sanction. “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. 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 3-month sanction,” read a statement from WADA. The ban will be from February 9 to May 4 2025. Notwithstanding this appeal, the circumstances surrounding this specific case meant that in order to ensure a fair and appropriate outcome, WADA was prepared to enter into a settlement agreement, in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code.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. 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. As previously stated, WADA did not seek a disqualification of any results, save that which was previously imposed by the tribunal of first instance. The International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency, both co-respondents to WADA’s CAS appeal, neither of which appealed the first-instance decision, both accepted the case resolution agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Sinner will serve his period of ineligibility from 9 February 2025 to 11:59 pm on 4 May 2025 (which includes a credit for four days previously served by the athlete while he was under a provisional suspension). As per the Code Article 10.14.2, Mr. Sinner may return to official training activity from 13 April 2025.
Jannick Sinner banned for three-months for doping
By Larson Thebe
As Jannik Sinner gears up for his return to the professional circuit, fellow player Jack Draper stands firmly by his side, advocating for empathy and a focus on his character, rather than the controversies that have clouded his recent victory.
