Jannik Sinner returns in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz within the BNP Paribas Open semifinals on the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard in Indian Wells, CA, on March 16, 2024. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner twice examined constructive for a banned substance in March however won’t be suspended as a result of he was not at fault, the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company introduced Tuesday.
The samples the Italian submitted on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Indian Wells on March 10 and March 18 contained low ranges of the prohibited substance clostebol, violating anti-doping guidelines, in keeping with an unbiased tribunal appointed by Sport Resolutions.
Nevertheless, it was discovered that clostebol, a steroid, entered Sinner’s system by a 3rd occasion. A help group member who had been utilizing an over-the-counter spray that contained the substance to deal with his personal wound handed it on to Sinner by remedy carried out with out gloves.
“I’ll now put this difficult and deeply unlucky interval behind me,” Sinner stated in a press release posted to Instagram on Tuesday. “I’ll proceed to do all the pieces I can to make sure I proceed to adjust to the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I’ve a group round me which are meticulous in their very own compliance.”
Though Sinner stays eligible for all ATP Tour occasions, he’ll lose the rating factors and prize cash he earned at Indian Wells. He misplaced within the semifinals to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain there.
“We’re inspired that no fault or negligence has been discovered on Jannik Sinner’s half,” the tour stated in a press release Tuesday. “We’d additionally wish to acknowledge the robustness of the investigation course of and unbiased analysis of the info below the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), which has allowed him to proceed competing. This has been a difficult matter for Jannik and his group, and underscores the necessity for gamers and their entourages to take utmost care in the usage of merchandise or remedies. Integrity is paramount in our sport.”
The unbiased tribunal heard the case final week.
“We take any constructive check extraordinarily critically,” stated Karen Moorhouse, the CEO of ITIA. “The ITIA carried out a radical investigation into the circumstances resulting in the constructive exams with which Mr. Sinner and his representatives absolutely co-operated.
“Following that investigation, the ITIA accepted the participant’s clarification as to the supply of the clostebol and that the presence of the substance was not intentional.”
–Area Stage Media
