The Italian Jannik Sinner, the world number one in tennis, registered positive results in two anti-doping tests conducted in March during the Indian Wells tournament, but was ultimately cleared, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced this Tuesday.
During the North American tournament, low levels of a metabolite of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmic and dermatological purposes, were detected in Sinner. The Italian tested positive for the same substance eight days later in a sample taken out of competition.
The tennis player was provisionally suspended, but successfully appealed on both occasions and was allowed to continue competing, having now been cleared of any intent.
According to the ITIA, Sinner justified the anti-doping test results by stating that a member of his support team had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to treat a minor injury and later administered massages to Sinner.
The ITIA accepted the defense of the Alpine tennis player, with an independent panel determining that there was no intent in the violation of anti-doping rules, which is why the player will face no suspension.
However, Sinner was stripped of the prize money and points earned at Indian Wells, where he lost in the semi-finals to the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who went on to win the competition.