Jannik Sinner to play at US Open despite positive doping tests

Jannik Sinner announced on his social media on Tuesday evening that he tested positive for doping earlier this year, but the world No.1 has been cleared of any wrongdoing and will play at the US Open.

Trace amounts of the banned substance clostebol were found in his system in March.

The Italian, who just won his fifth title of the season in Cincinnati on Monday, shared a statement entitled ‘Jannik Sinner cleared of any wrongdoing by Independent Tribunal’, which detailed the circumstances of his doping case.

How did a banned substance enter Sinner’s blood?

While competing at the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 event, Sinner received a massage from his physiotherapist.

The physiotherapist had a cut on his finger, which he treated with a spray containing clostebol (available over the counter in Italy).

Sinner had blisters on his feet, and at times the massage was performed without his physiotherapist wearing gloves or washing his hands.

This led to some of the clostebol entering Sinner’s blood stream and showing up in two separate drug screenings conducted eight days apart.

Sinner not banned despite positive doping test

As Sinner’s statement detailed, he was able to prove this was the case, and as a result, avoided receiving a ban for the positive doping test.

“We are encouraged that no fault or negligence has been found on Jannik Sinner’s part,” an official ATP statement said.

“We would also like to acknowledge the robustness of the investigation process and independent evaluation of the facts under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), which has allowed him to continue competing.

“This has been a challenging matter for Jannik and his team, and underscores the need for players and their entourages to take utmost care in the use of products or treatments.

“Integrity is paramount in our sport.”

While Sinner received temporary suspensions after each of the positive tests, he was allowed to continue playing upon appeal.

He has, however, been stripped of the prize money and ranking points he won at Indian Wells.

Tennis world split over Sinner ruling

There has been a varied reception to the announcement that Sinner will not be receiving a ban.

Some, such as retired Australian player John Millman, are giving the 23-year-old the benefit of the doubt.

“Before jumping to conclusions, Jannik Sinner had less than a billionth of a gram in his system,” Millman said.

“I believe him 100%.

“Maybe we should change threshold cater for contamination.”

Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios, however, holds a different view on the matter.

“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned,” Kyrgios posted on X.

“You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… You should be gone for two years.

“Your performance was enhanced.

“Massage cream… Yeah nice.”

Parallels have been drawn to former women’s No.1 Simona Halep, who received a provisional ban of one year after initially failing a doping test.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding him, tennis bookmakers have held Sinner’s odds steady heading into next week’s US Open.

He is second favourite going into New York, paying +200 to take out his second Grand Slam of the year.

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