World No. 1 and Cincinnati champion Jannik Sinner twice tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March of this year, it was announced on Tuesday.
However, Sinner will not receive any kind of suspension because an independent panel “determined a finding of No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility.” Additionally, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said that it “did not oppose the player’s appeals to lift the provisional suspension” and that “the violation was not intentional.”
The Italian was reportedly contaminated with low levels of a metabolite of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological use. It allegedly occurred during a massage therapy session after the person working on Sinner had used a spray on his own hands to treat a cut.
The positive tests came on March 10–during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells–and March 18. Although Sinner avoided any further punishment, he must forfeit both his ranking points and prize money from Indian Wells.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” the 23-year-old stated via social media on Tuesday. “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping [program] and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
Sinner beat Frances Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-2 in the Cincinnati final on Monday night.
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thoughts?
“ It allegedly occurred during a massage therapy session after the person working on Sinner had used a pray on his own hands to treat a cut.”
So masseur had a cut on his hand both times Sinner tested positive?
How considerate of them to let him off the hook.
This is what Kyrgios had to say:
Nicholas Kyrgios
@NickKyrgios
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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 🙄
With a name like his, redemption always likely
🙂
That’s what happens when the game needs you.
Rather “that’s what happens when you are NIKE poster boy”.
Like it didnt need Simona Halep.
and if he was Russian?
Geopolitical alignment can do you wonders right now. The laws of the old are no longer relevant.
Are there any notable correlations you can think of?
Simona was nowhere near as marketable as Sinner, her deal with NIKE was worth $2 million a year on yearly basis.
NIKE deal with Sinner is long term and is $158 millions arm, plus Rolex, Gucci etc, he is huge investment of those sponsors, there is no way they are going to let their money wasted. The only play that can come close to Sinner is Alcaraz and here we go, NIKE again🤷🏻‍♂️
As Shapovalov tweeted, different rules for different players.
One more thing, the rules are that player who tested positive is automatically suspended until final outcome (check previous cases), Sinner wasn’t, he was allowed to play even after twice tested positive?!
Liam Broady
@Liambroady
“Whether Sinner was doping or not. This is not right. Plenty of players go through the same thing and have to wait months or YEARS for their innocence to be declared. Not a good look”
So basically ITIA and their appendix, the so-called independent tribunal Sport Resolutions, have different standards depending on the player.
Some players get suspended and indeed have to wait months or years for any decision – they can’t do anything but wait in the mean time.
Some others are quickly and quietly let of the hook with pathetic explanations, so fast that it all looks like they’re actually laundering these players.
I do not believe that Sinner willingly / knowingly doped, but I also think that the official explanation is total BS.
Why didn’t ITIA delay the trial, examine Sinner’s biological passport and spend months trying to come up with more evidence that he’s doping? Why do they do that only for some of the players?
How often do things like this happen? Top players let off the hook with minimal trouble?
IMO ITIA and Sport Resolutions should be dissolved and their officials should be permanently banned from sports.
Yeah got to agree with NK, Shapovalov, it doesn’t say much for the integrity of the sport if you pick and choose which players receive punishment and which dont, it wasn’t intentional, just unfortunate, a short ban would surfice like 6 months like Cilic when he took those glucose tablets
On a tennis note, a shame to see Sinner and Alcaraz the two best players this year, on the same half of the draw which means they can’t meet in the final, I’m coming at the bit to see a Sinner Alcaraz final in a GS
Chomping