The No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world, Jannik Sinner, tested positive for an anabolic steroid two times back in March, yet it has been announced that he will not be suspended. That is to say, according to reports, a banned substance known as clostebol apparently entered the 23-year-old's system unintentionally through a massage which was performed by his physiotherapist.
For those who don't know, clostebol is a weaker anabolic steroid that enhances the effects of testosterone, building muscle at a faster rate, while at the same time prohibiting the estrogen that counteracts the process. To point out, this is the same drug that San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for, as he was previously suspended 80 games during the 2022 MLB season.
Sinner, on the other hand, will not be suspended, but will lose out on the $325,000 prize money and 400 points that he had earned while playing at the Indian Wells tournament.
All in all, it was ruled by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Tuesday that the low levels of clostebol that caused the positive tests were "a result of contamination from a support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound."
In view of this, it has been ultimately concluded that "the violation was not intentional."
The ATP Tour released a statement on the matter, noting a sigh of relief for the sport's top ranked player Sinner.
"We are encouraged that no fault or negligence has been found on Jannik Sinner's part. We would also like to acknowledge the robustness of the investigation process and independent evaluation of the facts under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP), which has allowed him to continue competing."
With this in mind, not all are happy about this decision, as outspoken tennis player Nicholas Kyrgios believes that Sinner should have been given a lengthy suspension.
Basically Kyrgios is not buying the massage story, and believes that Sinner benefited from the clostebol that he had tested positive for.
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 🙄 https://t.co/13qR0F9nH2
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 20, 2024
In regards to Sinner's play on the court, after not competing at the Paris Olympics because of having tonsilitis, he is coming off a win at the Cincinnati Open on Monday.
To note, Sinner will be the top seed at the upcoming U.S. open, which will get underway August 26.
