Jannik Sinner’s recent victory at Wimbledon has been somewhat overshadowed by the resurfacing of his doping controversy from 2024. Despite serving a three-month ban earlier in the year, questions linger about the circumstances surrounding his positive tests for a banned substance and whether he received preferential treatment.
The Clostebol Case
In March 2024, Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, an anabolic steroid. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially found that Sinner had been inadvertently contaminated with the substance by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, during a massage. Reportedly, Naldi had used a healing spray called Trofodermin, containing clostebol, on a cut on his hand and then massaged Sinner.
Clostebol is a steroid that can be used to build muscle. It is found in some over-the-counter ointments and sprays used to treat cuts and scrapes, particularly in countries like Italy. The National Library of Medicine states that a positive test for clostebol can result from intentional use for performance enhancement or unintentional contamination.
The Fallout and Ban
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation of unintentional contamination. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision, arguing that Sinner should be held responsible for his team’s actions. WADA initially sought a ban of up to two years.
Sinner and WADA eventually reached an agreement, resulting in a three-month suspension from February 9 to May 4, 2025. He was also ordered to forfeit ranking points and prize money earned at the Indian Wells tournament. An independent tribunal cleared Sinner of wrongdoing, accepting that the banned substance entered his body through inadvertent contamination during the massage.
Lingering Doubts and Controversy
Sinner’s relatively short ban and subsequent Wimbledon victory have reignited the controversy. Some in the tennis world believe Sinner received preferential treatment due to his high profile and access to better legal representation. Critics question whether a lower-ranked player would have received the same leniency.
Nick Kyrgios has been particularly vocal, suggesting Sinner’s Wimbledon win has an “asterisk”. He has criticized the handling of the case and the perceived lack of transparency. Kyrgios stated that Sinner’s team did everything in their power to ensure a short ban with no loss of titles or prize money and labeled the situation a “sad day for tennis”.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic also expressed frustration that players had been “kept in the dark” throughout the process. He noted the delay between Sinner’s positive tests in April and the public announcement in August.
Alcaraz’s Perspective
Following Sinner’s initial positive test in 2024, Carlos Alcaraz commented, “I believe there’s something behind all of this that many people don’t know, including myself. It’s very hard to talk about it”. He added, “He tested positive, but there must be a reason why they let him keep playing that we’re unaware of”.
Looking Ahead
Despite the controversy, Jannik Sinner has continued to perform at the highest level, reaching the World No. 1 ranking. He has maintained that he has always been careful about what he consumes. While the doping case remains a topic of discussion, Sinner appears determined to move forward and focus on his career.
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