World No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner has been handed a three-month suspension following a doping case settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The 23-year-old Italian tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, during the Indian Wells tournament in March 2024.
The suspension is effective from February 9 to May 4, 2025, allowing Sinner to return in time for the French Open starting on May 25.
The positive test was attributed to accidental contamination. Sinner’s physiotherapist used a spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on his own finger and then administered massages to Sinner without gloves, leading to trace amounts entering Sinner’s system. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially found “no fault or negligence” on Sinner’s part, resulting in the forfeiture of prize money and ranking points from Indian Wells but no further sanctions.
However, WADA appealed this decision, seeking a period of ineligibility. To resolve the matter and avoid a potentially lengthy legal process, Sinner agreed to a three-month ban. WADA acknowledged that Sinner did not intend to cheat and that the clostebol provided no performance-enhancing benefits.
During his suspension, Sinner will miss significant tournaments, including the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid. He is expected to return to competition at the Masters 1000 event in Rome in May, just ahead of the French Open.
This case underscores the importance of vigilance regarding substances used by athletes and their support teams, as even inadvertent exposure can lead to significant consequences.
