Jannik Sinner tested positive for doping last April, but an independent investigation by ITIA, the world tennis anti-doping agency, cleared him of "unintentional use" of a substance used by his physiotherapist. The Italian tennis player's press office announced the news.
The substance found in the world tennis no. 1 was a metabolite of Clostebol, a steroid. Sinner does not incur any sanctions, and will be able to continue his season.
After a thorough investigation, ITIA and Jannik discovered that the inadvertent contamination of Clostebol occurred through the treatment he received from his physiotherapist. His personal trainer purchased a product, readily available over the counter at any Italian pharmacy, which he gave to Jannik's physiotherapist to treat a cut on the therapist's finger.
Jannik was unaware of this, and his physiotherapist was unaware that he was using a product containing Clostebol. The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and, along with various skin lesions on Jannik's body, caused the inadvertent contamination," the statement explains.
Jannik has cooperated fully with the ITIA investigation from the very beginning. ITIA is fighting misconduct in sport, and doping in particular. Its rules and procedures are exceptionally rigorous, and following a forensic investigation and an independent hearing, the Independent Tribunal has ruled that Jannik is innocent. He is not at fault.
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However, given the strict liability nature of the anti-doping rules, he agrees to forfeit the points from the Indian Wells tournament where the test was taken," the statement reads. In the Californian Masters 1000 tournament, Sinner had reached the semifinals where he was defeated by Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
"Jannik Sinner recognizes the importance of ITIA's strict anti-doping rules for protecting the sport he loves," the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) wrote.
Jamie Singer, Jannik's lawyer, quoted in the statement released by the tennis player, commented on the matter as follows: "Anti-doping rules must be very strict to be effective. Unfortunately, the unfortunate consequence is that, occasionally, completely innocent athletes are implicated.
There is no doubt that Jannik is completely innocent in this case. The ITIA has not challenged this fundamental principle. However, according to the rules, he is responsible for the errors of his team members, and those errors unfortunately led to the positive test that the ITIA has just announced.
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