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World No. 1 ranked tennis player, Jannik Sinner recently escaped a ban despite testing positive for a banned substance twice. The Italian top ranked player had tested positive for an anabolic steroid named Clostebol in March. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), a body which has been established to promote, encourage and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide on Tuesday, August 20 confirmed Sinner not guilty of any wrongdoing.
It is to be noted that Clostebol is a part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, but the ITIA confirmed that the substance entered the system of Sinner unintentionally. The report from the ITIA confirmed that Clostebol entered his system “as a result of contamination from support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray (available in Italy) containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound.”
"That support team member applied the spray between 5 and 13 March, during which time they also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in unknowing transdermal contamination,” ITIA’s report stated.
It further added that they comply with the explanation provided by the World No. 1 tennis star and confirmed that the violation was “not intentional”. "A thorough investigation by the ITIA followed, including multiple in-depth interviews with Sinner and their support team, all of whom co-operated fully with the process. Following that investigation, and in line with the independent scientific advice, the ITIA accepted the player’s explanation as to the source of clostebol found in their sample and that the violation was not intentional," said ITIA in its ruling on Sinner.
It is to be noted that the 23-year-old was provisionally suspended on both occasions when he tested positive for it. Although he appealed the provisional suspension on both occasions and has now been cleared to play. “Following consultation with scientific experts, who concluded that the player’s explanation was credible, the ITIA did not oppose the player’s appeals to lift suspension,” the statement further read.
Jannik Sinner reacts after ITIA clears him of whereabouts violations
The 23-year-old Italian took to social media to open up after the ITIA’s decision on Tuesday, August 20. Although he added to move on from the incident, but also vowed to “comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme” going ahead.
“I ill now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance,” part of Sinner’s statement read.
