.png)
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Tennis
Luke Davies
Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban from tennis after reaching a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Sinner, 23, returned two positive drug tests in 2024, testing positive for low levels of metabolite clostebol – a muscle-building steroid, according to BBC Sport.
Eight days later, he returned a second positive test for low levels of the same substance, which is used in products to treat swelling and irritation.
Advert
A provisional suspension was applied, but the Italian's challenge was successful, meaning he was permitted to carry on playing.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found that Sinner was contaminated with the substance by his physiotherapist, after he had been applying an over-the-counter spray in Italy to a cut in his own hand before carrying out treatments on the tennis star.
The ITIA accepted the explanation.
Advert
However, on Saturday morning, it was reported that Sinner had settled with WADA, meaning he will be suspended from February 9 to May 4 - a ban which will be enforced immediately.
Therefore, he will be eligible to play in this year’s Grand Slams, having won the Australian Open just last month.
The first of the four majors is the French Open, which gets underway on May 25, 2025.
Advert
"WADA accepts the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision,” a statement issued by WADA read.
“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.
“However, under the Code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome."
Sinner also had his say, through a statement released by his lawyers.
Advert
"This case had been hanging over me 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," read the statement via BBC Sport.
"I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise 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."
Sinner will allowed to return to "official training activity" on April 13.