No. 1 Jannik Sinner gets 3-month ban in settlement of doping case

Jannik Sinner Accepts 3-Month Ban

Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency and said Saturday the agreement ends a case that was “hanging over me” since his two positive doping tests nearly a year ago.

WADA Challenges ITIA’s Ruling

WADA, which was seeking to ban the three-time Grand Slam champion from the sport for at least one year, had challenged a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the ITIA judged was accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid last March.

Sinner’s Explanation Accepted

Sinner’s explanation — that trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample was due to a massage from a trainer who used the substance after cutting his own finger — had been accepted.

Timing of the Ban

The timing means the 23-year-old Italian won’t miss any Grand Slam tournaments. The French Open, the season’s next major, starts May 25.

Sinner’s Statement

“This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Sinner, who won the Australian Open in January, said in a statement. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”

WADA’s Statement

WADA accepts the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision. WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat, and that his exposure to Clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage,” it said in Saturday’s announcement.

International Tennis Federation and ITIA

WADA added that the International Tennis Federation and ITIA, “both co-respondents to WADA’s CAS appeal, neither of which appealed the first-instance decision, both accepted the case resolution agreement.

ATP Tour’s Statement

The ATP Tour pointed to WADA’s confirmation that Sinner “had no intent to violate anti-doping rules and gained no competitive advantage.” This case is an important reminder of players’ responsibility to carefully manage the products and treatments they or their entourages use,” the governing body added in a statement Saturday.

Sinner’s Return

The suspension is from Feb. 9 to May 4. Sinner could return at his home tournament, the Italian Open in Rome, which starts May 7.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, bringing an end to a case that has been hanging over him for nearly a year. The 23-year-old Italian will not miss any Grand Slam tournaments, but will have to sit out for three months before he can return to competition.

FAQs

* What is the length of the ban?
The ban is three months, from Feb. 9 to May 4.
* What is the timing of the ban?
The timing means Sinner won’t miss any Grand Slam tournaments, but will have to sit out for three months before he can return to competition.
* What is the reason for the ban?
Sinner’s explanation — that trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample was due to a massage from a trainer who used the substance after cutting his own finger — had been accepted.
* What is the reaction of WADA and ITIA?
WADA and ITIA have accepted Sinner’s explanation and have agreed to the three-month ban.
* What is the reaction of the ATP Tour?
The ATP Tour has pointed to WADA’s confirmation that Sinner “had no intent to violate anti-doping rules and gained no competitive advantage.”