World No 1 Jannik Sinner has been cleared after testing positive for a trace element of the banned substance clostebol, his team have said in a statement.
The incident is said to have occurred during the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in March where the Italian reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Carlos Alcaraz.
A statement released on Sinner’s behalf on Tuesday said that the violation occurred after Sinner’s fitness trainer purchased a product that was used to care for a cut on the finger of the tennis player’s physiotherapist.
“Jannik knew nothing of this, and his physiotherapist did not know that he was using a product containing clostebol,” the statement read.
“The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused the inadvertent contamination.”
The product in question is said to have contained less than a billionth of a gram of the banned substance clostebol.
Sinner was notified in April that he had tested positive and will lose his points from the tournament in California where the test took place – 400 points.
The Australian Open champion said in a statement: “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s (International Tennis Integrity Agency) anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
The statement from Sinner’s agency read: “Following a thorough and extensive investigation the ITIA and Jannik discovered the inadvertent contamination of clostebol came through the treatment he received from his physiotherapist.
“His fitness trainer purchased a product, easily available over the counter in any Italian pharmacy, which he gave to Jannik’s physiotherapist to care for a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger. Jannik knew nothing of this, and his physiotherapist did not know that he was using a product containing clostebol.
“The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused the inadvertent contamination.
“Jannik has cooperated fully with the ITIA’s investigation from the beginning. The ITIA is battling misconduct in sport and doping in particular. Its rules and processes are exceptionally rigorous and following forensic investigation and an independent hearing, the Independent Tribunal have decided that Jannik is innocent. He is not at fault.
“However, given the strict liability nature of the anti-doping rules, he accepts that he loses the points from the Indian Wells tournament where the test took place. Jannik Sinner acknowledges the importance.”
Sky Sports News has contacted the ITIA and the ATP for comment.
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Sinner defeated Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to claim the Cincinnati Open title
Sinner, who eclipsed home favourite Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to win the final of the Cincinnati Open on Monday, will now turn his attention to the US Open, which begins on August 26 – live on Sky Sports Tennis.
“Now, for sure, it’s important to recover, to be ready for New York,” he said after his victory in Cincinnati.
“This is our main goal here for this US swing.
“I’m very happy to be in a position where I am and just trying to keep going mentally, having this hunger to keep playing, and hopefully I can show some good tennis also in New York.”
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