Jannik Sinner, the currently ranked No. 1 player in the world, has accepted to serve an immediate  three-month suspension for two positive drugs tests last year.  

The suspension will span from February 9 – May 4.  Significantly, Sinner will be able to participate in the next Grand Slam event, the French Open at Roland Garros, which begins on May 19. Sinner will not be able to train until 13 April and will miss the upcoming tournaments at the Miami Open, Indian Wells, Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open.

According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), Sinner tested positive for the prohibited substance clostebol twice in March 2024.  Specifically, Sinner provided an in-competition sample at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, California, USA, on March 10, 2024, which had the presence of low levels of clostebol. A second sample provided eight days later, also tested positive for clostebol at low levels.  

Sinner has maintained that the positive tests resulted from a massage from a trainer who used a substance to treat a cut on his finger.  The ITIA accepted this explanation and found that the violation was not intentional.  The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), nonetheless, appealed the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and sought a suspension between one and two years.

In a published statement, WADA accepted  Sinner’s explanation and that he did not intend to cheat:

“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.”

In light of the agreement reached with Sinner, WADA has formally withdrawn its CAS appeal.

Following the announcement of the resolution, The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) strongly criticized the current anti-doping system, namely, taking issues with the lack of consistency in how cases are handled and the “lack of commitment from the ATP, WTA, Grand Slams, ITIA, and WADA to reform and create a fair and transparent system going forward.”  

The Sinner case highlights the impact of actual or perceived bias regarding rules and may be the trigger for change in professional tennis and its governing bodies and organizations. 

Ken Winkler is a shareholder at Berman Fink Van Horn in Atlanta, where he counsels employers and business owners on employment law and compliance, including workplace issues such as harassment (#MeToo) and discrimination; ADA, FMLA, and other employment laws governing the workplace; employment restrictions (non-competes); and employment and business litigation. Ken obtained his law degree (1993) and B.S.B.A (1990) from The Ohio State University. You can read his blog, SportsFansGuide2HR, and connect with him via email at [email protected].