Early this week, it came to light that Men’s World No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner had tested positive twice for clostebol, a type of steroid banned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). However, the ITIA also ruled no fault or negligence on the 23-year-old Italian’s part for the positive results. The decision has sparked an uproar among the professional tennis community.
“Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now,” wrote Canadian player Denis Shapovalov on X. “Different rules for different players.”
Reacting to the news on X, American player Tennys Sandgren wrote: “This is ridiculous. Second-hand steroids through a massage?? ATP always looks out for their money-makers. Good for business, bad for transparency and integrity.”
To be clear, the tribunal did strip Sinner of his ranking points, prize money, and results from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, where the positive tests took place on March 10 and March 18. The player was suspended by ATP but appealed the decision. Many felt blindsided by the hush hush manner in which the re-evaluation was conducted leading up to the joint announcements by ITIA and Sinner’s camp that cleared him of the doping charges.
Prior to the positive testings, Sinner was on course to have the best year of his career, having won his first Grand Slam at January’s Australian Open. Together with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, he is perceived to be the future of men’s tennis. But days after winning the Miami Open in April, he was notified of his first positive test. The player was immediately suspended, though the ruling was only short-lived.