Jannik Sinner has agreed to an immediate three-month ban from tennis for failing two anti-doping tests last year after reaching a resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Sinner, who defended his title at the Australian Open last month, tested positive for small traces of a metabolite of clostebol twice. The International Tennis Integrity Agency then launched an investigation into the matter which resulted in a hearing being conducted by an independent tribunal which was convened by Sport Resolutions. The tribunal accepted that Sinner was accidentally contaminated with the banned substance through his former physio who was using a spray containing clostebol for a cut on his hand.
However, WADA launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last September, arguing that the finding of “no fault or negligence” was not correct under the applicable rules and seeking a ban of up to two years. That hearing was set to take place in April, but it will no longer be held as an agreement has been reached.
“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that it has entered into a case resolution agreement in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, with the player accepting a three-month period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation that led to him testing positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024,” a statement reads.
“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.”
Whilst WADA accepts that Sinner never intentionally took a banned substance, a three-month ban was agreed as the tennis star has a degree of responsibility for the negligence of his team which he is in charge of. Both the ITIA and CAS have accepted this agreement.
“Following a thorough investigation by the ITIA (including advice from WADA accredited laboratories), we were satisfied that the player had established the source of the prohibited substance and that the breach was unintentional. Today’s outcome supports this finding,” the ITIA said.
“The ITIA referred the matter to an independent panel which reached a decision of “No Fault or Negligence” and therefore no suspension based on the facts and their application of the rules.
“The three-month outcome was only possible by agreement between WADA and the player.”
Sinner’s period of ineligibility began on February 9th and will end on May 4th which means he will be able to play at the French Open, as well as his home tournament in Rome.
“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,” Sinner said in a statement released by his lawyers.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the Italian Tennis Federation has lent its full backing to Sinner. Angelo Binaghi, who is president of the federation, described the situation as a ‘nightmare coming to an end” before making an unexpected jibe at WADA.
“This agreement between the two parties certifies Jannik’s innocence, his absolute non-guilt, and finally allows him to calm down and plan his future with a great return to the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome where all of Italy will welcome him as he deserves,” said Binaghi.
“The regret remains for everything he had to go through and for all the time Jannik had to spend with this burden.
“If nothing else, this will perhaps be the last great mistake of Wada which, as we know, has already decided to change the rules that forced Jannik to accept a compromise that even if it does not recognize any responsibility on his part is truly unfair”.
Under WADA Code Article 10.14.2, Sinner will be allowed to return to official training activity from 13 April 2025.
