We explain the doping case involving world number one tennis player Jannik Sinner, cleared by an independent tribunal

The Italian player tested positive in March for clostebol, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The case was only revealed on Tuesday.

A shadow hangs over the world number one. Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone, in March 2024, during the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells. The player himself published a statement revealing this information, on his X account, on Tuesday, August 20. Franceinfo: sport explains this affair to you.

When did Jannik Sinner test positive?

The world number one tested positive for clostebol, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), twice during the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, which took place from March 6 to 17, 2024. According to the report from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which is in charge of the fight against doping on the circuit, the urine tests were carried out on March 10 and 18, 2024.

“[Jannik] Sinner provided an in-competition sample at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, USA on 10 March 2024 that tested positive for a metabolite of clostebol at low levels. A further out-of-competition sample taken eight days later also tested positive for the same metabolite – again at low levels,” writes ITIA in a press release published on Tuesday, August 20.

What is the player’s line of defense?

Faced with these positive tests for clostebol, the Italian denies any intention of doping and pleads involuntary contamination. Jannik Sinner has in fact explained that this substance had penetrated his body through the skin, following contamination by a member of his team, in this case his physiotherapist. According to him, the latter had used a spray available over the counter in Italy, containing clostebol, in order to treat a small wound on one of his fingers, “between March 5 and 13, during which time he also provided daily massages to Sinner, resulting in transdermal contamination without his knowledge,” details ITIA.

A sequence of events that Roger Rua, sports doctor and expert with the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD), questions. “If we find products like this in a urine test, there must have been absorption of a relatively large quantity,” points out the expert.

What sanctions for Jannik Sinner?

According to the World Anti-Doping Code, a positive test for steroids automatically leads to a provisional suspension of the athlete concerned. However, Jannik Sinner was not prevented from playing after his two positive tests. “The player has the right to request an independent tribunal chair appointed by Sport Resolutions [qui dépend de l’ITIA] to lift this provisional suspension. Each time, Sinner successfully appealed the provisional suspension and was thus able to continue playing,” the international agency further specifies.

The player has had his ATP points and prize money from the Indian Wells Masters 1000 withdrawn. [il avait perdu en demi-finale face à Carlos Alcaraz]. Contacted by franceinfo: sport, the ITIA explained to us that the player had “admitted an anti-doping rule violation”. “The jury decided that the rules had been broken, but that the player was not at fault. Therefore, since a prohibited substance was indeed detected in his body during this tournament, he loses the points won and the prize money. Since he was not at fault, there is no further sanction”, ITIA responded. The independent tribunal, which exonerated and did not clear the player, considered that in the absence of any fault or negligence, he would not be suspended. However, his positive test still remains, given that he played Indian Wells under the influence of a prohibited product.

Is the case over?

At the request of Jannik Sinner, the independent tribunal exonerated the player in its decision rendered on Monday, August 19. However, the case is not closed yet.The Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO Italia) can appeal, in the same way as theThe World Anti-Doping Agency, whose role is to regulate and supervise the fight against doping at the international level, as it confirmed to franceinfo: sport. “We will review the decision to ensure that it complies with the rules. And we reserve the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if that is appropriate. So we will make a decision on that in the coming days and weeks,” she assured. The ITIA has already clarified that it will not appeal the decision.

“WADA will only take up the case if they have sufficient evidence that the dosage is positive. In this case, there will be expert opinions and counter-expert opinions,” Roger Rua points out. However, in doping cases, and even in cases of involuntary contamination, the athlete remains responsible for what is in his body. If Jannik Sinner were to be cleared, he could request the reallocation of his points and prize money. “And maybe even some compensation,” adds Roger Rua.