London | Sinner drug problem resurfaces

The news that Jannik Sinner, the world No,1, had tested positive for clostebol last March which was kept secret until August, and when it was finally confirmed coupled with the revealation he had been cleared of any wrongdoing following an appeal, many eyebrows were raised.

Obviously I’m very disappointed and also surprised about this appeal because we had three hearings,” he said on the news becoming public Jannik Sinner

Now The Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) decision is being questioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) who in turn have launched an appeal against the conclusion reached by the ITIA as ‘not correct’ and calling for a ban of ‘between one and two years.’

Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March 2024, a type of performance-enhancing steroid that is prohibited under Section S1 of WADA’s Prohibited List and, in his appeal against any ban he pointed a finger at his physio masseuses had inadvertently rubbed it into him during treatment he was receiving at the time.

That excuse was accepted on his appeal, so the Italian was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent tribunal of the ITIA in August, prior to the US Open which Sinner went on to win.

“It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules. WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.

“As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time.”

Sinner is currently defending his China Open title in Beijing and has reached the quarter final stage where he is set to meet Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic for a semi-final place.

On receiving the news of this development, Sinner admitted he had been aware of this possibility over the past few days.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed and also surprised about this appeal because we had three hearings,” he said on the news becoming public.

“All three hearings came out very positively for me.

“I knew (of) it a couple of days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it’s going to go official … so it’s no surprise.”

The independent tribunal had concluded Sinner had been accidentally contaminated by his team, who used “an over-the-counter spray 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,” a statement from the ITIA said.

“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 the provisional suspensions.  

“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.”

The real problem which is being highlighted is the inconsistency of the ITIA who were quick to issue a four year ban on Simona Halep for failing a test at the 2022 US Open in 2023 (it was then reduced to two) even though the Romanian denied any wrongdoing for her positive test, blaming contaminated nutritional supplements.

She took her appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) which cleared her declaring she was not entirely at fault in March 2024.

It has led to the players themselves criticising the ITIA for inconsistency like Denis Shapovalov that it looked like ’different rules for different players’ and Nick Kyrgios declaring the whole thing was ‘ridiculous’ and that rules should be followed.