World number one Jannik Sinner will not be banned for two failed drugs tests after a tribunal accepted that the results were caused by contamination from full-body massages by his physiotherapist.
A trace of less than a billionth of a gram of anabolic steroid Clostebol was discovered in Sinner’s urine during the Indian Wells Open in March, which he said was caused by a healing spray used by Giacomo Naldi to treat a cut the physio had suffered.
An unintentional anti-doping violation can carry a two-year suspension but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said Sinner bears “no fault or negligence” for the situation, with an independent panel ruling out any performance-enhancing effect.
BREAKING:
ITIA reveals ATP #1 Jannik Sinner successfully proved ‘No Fault or Negligence’ after two positive tests in March 2024 for low levels of banned substance clostebol.
Sinner argued contamination: a team member using a spray nearby.
A shocking story right atop tennis. pic.twitter.com/HYY6FjhbVU
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 20, 2024
Jannik Sinner ‘meticulous’
Sinner will lose the 400 ranking points and £250,000 of prize money he collected on his way to the semi-finals, remaining top of the rankings above Novak Djokovic.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” said the Italian.
“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) August 20, 2024
Sinner investigation ‘thorough’
The 23-year-old’s application to cancel brief provisional suspensions he received in April was accepted by the independent panel.
“We take any positive test extremely seriously and will always apply the rigorous processes set out by [the World Anti-Doping Agency],” said ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse.
“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.”
Bank records proved that Sinner’s fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, had bought a common medical spray containing Clostebol acetate over the counter in an Italian pharmacy and later recommended Naldi to use it on a cut finger during the Italian Open.
Naldi used the spray for nine days, coinciding with him giving Sinner bare-handed massages.
The hearing in London found that Sinner had averaged a test a month in the preceding 12 months without producing a trace of Clostebol.
“Anti-doping rules have to be very strict to be effective,” Jamie Singer, Sinner’s lawyer, said.
“Sadly the unfortunate consequence is that, occasionally, entirely innocent athletes get caught up in them.
“There is no question that Jannik is innocent in this case. The ITIA did not challenge that key principle.
“However, under strict liability rules, Jannik is responsible for whatever is in his system – even when entirely unaware of it, as in this exceptional case.”
Sinner wins Cincinnati Open
Sinner won his first Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final in January.
He beat Frances Tiafoe in the Cincinnati Open final on Monday and is second-favourite behind Carlos Alcaraz to win the 2024 US Open, which starts next week.
