TENNIS – World number one Jannik Sinner has been cleared of wrongdoing by an independent tribunal after failing two drug tests in March, the International Tennis Integrity Authority said yesterday.
The tribunal convened by Sport Resolutions accepted the Italian’s explanation that the anabolic agent clostebol entered his system from a member of his support team through massages and sports therapy, the ITIA said in a statement.
It added that Sinner bears no fault or negligence after his physio Giocomo Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to his own skin to treat a small finger wound caused by a scalpel used to treat foot calluses.
According to the evidence, Naldo then administered massages to Sinner between March 5-13 without using gloves, unaware that the product he had used on his cut contained clostebol.
Sinner’s first positive sample was taken on March 10 with a second eight days later.
Provisional suspensions are normally applied in such circumstances under the WADA code, but Sinner was allowed to continue playing after his team filed urgent appeals stating that he had been the victim of contamination.
The ITIA, following consultation with scientific experts, agreed that Sinner’s explanation was credible and lifted the provisional suspension ahead of its investigation.
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