Jannik Sinner fails two doping tests
The story began earlier today when Jannik Sinner posted a statement on his Instagram account, mentioning that he had been cleared of two failed doping tests from last March.
The banned substance found in the world number one’s samples was clostebol, an anabolic steroid that can be found in certain creams and sprays available in Italian pharmacies.
What is Clostebol?
Also known as 4-chlorotestosterone, clostebol is a synthetic derivative of a steroid that the body naturally produces and is used for muscle repair and development. East Germany was involved in a scandal in the 60s and 70s for its national doping program, which used clostebol.
This substance has been at the center of several positive doping tests for Italian athletes in recent years, with no fewer than 38 Italian athletes testing positive between 2019 and 2023. Some creams and sprays containing clostebol are available over-the-counter in Italian pharmacies, making them easily accessible but also increasing the risk of accidental contamination.
This, of course, does not make the athletes innocent. Similar to the meldonium doping scandal, which led to the suspension of Maria Sharapova, where most athletes involved were Russian, as the drug was widely available in Russia.
It's worth noting that clostebol was the substance that led to the suspension of professional baseball player Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2022.
How Jannik Sinner Tested Positive for Clostebol
According to Sinner’s defense, his physiotherapist used a spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on his finger and then massaged Sinner without wearing gloves.
While this story does not entirely prove the Italian’s innocence, it is a plausible scenario that aligns with the amounts found in his samples. According to the independent tribunal that cleared Jannik Sinner, the amount detected was not sufficient to impact performance.
This argument was used to declare Sinner innocent and not responsible. According to his defense, the world number one asked his physiotherapist if he had used any product on the cut, to which the physiotherapist allegedly replied negatively.
Jannik Sinner's trainer, Giacomo Naldi, was seen in the stands at Indian Wells wearing a bandage on one of his finger. Sinner's team was also able to retrieve the invoice related to the spray that was bought before the Californian tournament.
Did the ATP Cover Up the Incident?
The ATP has previously faced scandals for allegedly covering up damaging information about some of its stars. In his autobiography Open, which we highly recommend, Andre Agassi reveals that the tour covered up his drug use to protect his image.
Several questions arise about the timeline of the story. Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol at Indian Wells in March. He was then provisionally suspended from April 4 to 5, 2024, and from April 17 to 20, 2024. These two suspensions were lifted quickly.
What is concerning is that on April 20, 2024, Jannik Sinner was in Madrid, Spain, to participate in the Mutua Madrid Open, a Masters 1000 clay court tournament. Despite being provisionally suspended, he entered the main draw and even held a pre-tournament press conference without addressing the issue.
However, when a player contests test results, they are kept private until the appeal is resolved. This means that neither the ATP nor Jannik Sinner committed any wrongdoing, but it shows a glaring lack of transparency that could tarnish the image of both the organization and the Italian and reduce public trust.
Several Players React
Unsurprisingly, this announcement has sparked several reactions among professional players, many claiming that Sinner would have been treated very differently if he were a lower-ranked player.
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