Doping Slap on Wrist Still Costs Jannik Sinner $325K

The No. 1 men’s tennis player in the world tested positive twice for performance-enhancing drugs, will lose prize money and ranking points, but won’t be suspended.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced Tuesday that Italian Jannik Sinner, fresh off winning the Cincinnati Open on Monday, had twice tested positive for low levels of the steroid clostebol back in March at the Indian Wells tournament, where he lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. (That’s the same steroid that led to an 80-game ban for Fernando Tatis Jr.) Sinner said his massage therapist had used an over-the-counter spray available in Italy to treat a small wound on their finger during the same time as the tournament, which then found its way into the tennis player’s system through lesions on his back because the physiotherapist wasn’t wearing gloves.

The ITIA said Sinner had appealed and gotten both automatic suspensions lifted, which allowed him to keep competing. An ITIA investigation concluded Sinner was telling the truth, and Tuesday’s announcement centers on an independent panel agreeing with that decision, finding “no fault or negligence” on the tennis player’s part.

Sinner won’t face any suspensions, but thanks to the World Anti-Doping Code and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, he will lose his Indian Wells results, prize money, and points. That’s $325,000 and 400 ranking points. As of the most recent ATP rankings, Sinner is 2,300 points ahead of No. 2 Novak Djokovic.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and the Italian Anti-Doping Agency are both allowed to appeal the decision.