World No. 1 Jannik Sinner addresses doping concerns after avoiding suspension

 

Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked player in men's tennis, faced questions at the US Open media session on Friday regarding his recent doping case. Despite testing positive twice for the banned substance Clostebol in March, Sinner has avoided a suspension.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed on Tuesday that the Italian player was found to have “no fault or negligence” regarding the positive results, which came from a sample taken on March 10 at Indian Wells, and another sample collected eight days later. Both tests showed low levels of Clostebol, an anabolic steroid.

“It’s not ideal to have this before a Grand Slam, but I know in my heart that I haven’t done anything wrong,” Sinner, 23, stated. “I will always respect anti-doping rules.”

Sinner, the top seed at the US Open, is scheduled to play American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round next week.

In a social media statement released on Tuesday, Sinner explained that the positive tests were due to “inadvertent contamination of Clostebol” through a treatment administered by his physiotherapist. The 2024 Australian Open champion clarified that the physiotherapist had used an over-the-counter spray on themselves, not on Sinner.

On Friday, Sinner revealed that he had parted ways with his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness coach Umberto Ferrara due to the incident.

“We worked together for two years and achieved great success with a fantastic team,” Sinner said. “But after this situation, I don’t feel confident continuing with them. Right now, I need a fresh start.”

Sinner expressed that he could not control the impact of the situation on his reputation.

“Anyone who knows me well understands that I would never intentionally violate the rules,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Sinner in the Cincinnati Open final on Monday—just before the ITIA announcement—was asked about the situation. Tiafoe, focusing on his own performance, said, “The governing bodies have made their decision, and he’s cleared to play. That’s all I have to say. I wish him well at the US Open and am looking forward to my own performance.”