Anna 
World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner banned for three months after testing positive for banned drug
World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner has been banned for three months after testing positive for the banned anabolic drug clostebol. Despite testing positive, Sinner was not initially banned and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has now withdrawn its appeal, acknowledging that Sinner did not intentionally cheat.
Case details Last year, Sinner tested positive for clostebol twice – once at the ATP Masters in Indian Wells, USA on March 10 and again during training on March 18. Despite the test showing that Sinner had the banned drug in his system, he was not immediately banned. The matter was referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which initially planned to hold a hearing in March. WADA asked for a ban of one to two years but later dropped its appeal. The body acknowledged that Sinner’s exposure to clostebol was unintentional and due to negligence on the part of his entourage. It ruled that the exposure to clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and that a three-month ban was considered a fair outcome.
What is Clostebol? Clostebol is an anabolic steroid that promotes muscle growth and improves athletic performance. It was previously used in a government-sponsored doping program in East Germany. Most cases of Clostebol doping occurred in Italy and Brazil, where the substance can be found in over-the-counter products such as wound creams and sprays. Notably, Norwegian skier Therese Johaug tested positive for Clostebol in 2016 after applying a skin cream containing the substance. Her case resulted in her being banned for 18 months from the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Why wasn’t Sinner banned immediately? Sinner was initially banned by the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) following his positive doping test. However, the player successfully appealed, explaining that a physiotherapist on his team used a spray containing Clostebol to treat a wound on his own finger, resulting in accidental contamination. The ITIA accepted this explanation and referred the case to an independent panel, which concluded that Sinner was not at fault.
Sinner’s place in tennis Sinner has made significant strides in tennis as the Big Three era came to an end – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have retired, with Novak Djokovic expected to do so soon. In June 2024, Sinner became the first Italian player to reach world No. 1, a position he has held since. He also won two Grand Slam titles that year, including the Australian Open and U.S. Open, as well as the ATP Finals. This year, he defended his Australian Open title by defeating Alexander Zverev in the final.
Impact of three-month ban Sinner will not lose any of his previous titles or earnings, but will miss several tournaments before his ban is lifted on May 4. He will also lose ranking points from the same period last year, which could allow No. 2-ranked Zverev to overtake him in the rankings. However, Sinner is still eligible to compete in the French Open in May, as well as train in Rome before the tournament.
Reactions from the tennis community The ruling has sparked mixed reactions. Novak Djokovic expressed dissatisfaction with the process, saying many players felt it favoured top players who could afford the best legal support. He also expressed concerns about a lack of trust in the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Tennis Federation. Alexander Zverev also questioned the fairness of the case, arguing that a three-month ban was not enough if Sinner was indeed guilty of doping.
Anti-Doping Organizations Controversy The ITIA and WADA were further criticised after Polish athlete Iga Świątek tested positive for trimetazidine last August but was only banned for a month after claiming the positive result was due to contaminated melatonin tablets. WADA’s decision not to appeal Swiatek’s ban further fuelled doubts about the agencies’ approach.
Experts weigh in on the case Anti-doping experts have expressed concerns about the long-term impact of the Sinner case. Fritz Sörgel, a German pharmacist and doping expert, warned that leniency for Sinner could weaken the anti-doping system. He said future athletes could use the case as a precedent to negotiate lighter penalties, undermining the effectiveness of anti-doping measures. Lars Mortsiefer, head of Germany’s national anti-doping agency, echoed that sentiment, saying the case could encourage future athletes to seek leniency by reaching a settlement with WADA.
The case continues to spark debate within and outside the tennis community as it raises questions about fairness, accountability and the effectiveness of the anti-doping system in professional sports.
Related topics：