ROMA. Jannik Sinner tested positive for doping last April, but an independent investigation by Itia, the world tennis anti-doping agency, cleared him, due to “unknowing intake”, due to a substance used by his physiotherapist. This was announced by the press office of the Italian tennis player.
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.
According to the reconstruction made by Itia, the drug in question, Clostebol, had been used, in the form of a spray, by his physiotherapist, to treat a cut on his finger. Subsequently, the physiotherapist performed a massage on Sinner, without wearing gloves, causing the drug to come into contact with a lesion on the tennis player’s skin.
Result: during an anti-doping test at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, an infinitesimal quantity of the metabolite was found in the urine of the South Tyrolean champion. We are talking about a quantity less than a billionth of a gram. From there, the investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency began, which clarified that there was no malice. However, this does not remain without consequences for Jannik.
Being also responsible for his team, Sinner will have 400 points taken away from his Indian Wells semi-final and the related cash prizes, equal to approximately 300mila euro.
Sinner was subjected to two doping tests that revealed a positive result for a Clostebol metabolite, 8 days apart; this was reported by Itia, the International Tennis Integrity Agency, in a note that confirmed what the Italian tennis player had announced, specifying some details.
The decision of an independent tribunal to find Sinner innocent was taken on August 15, and “is appealable by WADA and NADO”, that is, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Italian one.
2024-08-21 05:26:27