Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March. However, he will not be suspended because the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the banned performance enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist.
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The initial test took place during the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in March. The Italian player reached the semi-finals during the tournament but eventually lost to Carlos Alcaraz. Another test conducted out of competition eight days later also showed positive results for the same substance.
An independent panel conducted a hearing on August 15 and cleared Jannik Sinner of any wrongdoing. The panel concluded that Sinner had been contaminated with clostebol through a product purchased by his fitness trainer, which his physiotherapist used to treat a cut on his finger. Sinner's physiotherapist treated him without gloves, inadvertently transferring the product to Sinner. Clostebol is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from testosterone.
“Following a thorough and extensive investigation the ITIA and Jannik discovered the inadvertent contamination of clostebol came through the treatment he received from his physiotherapist. His fitness trainer purchased a product, easily available over the counter in any Italian pharmacy, which he gave to Jannik’s physiotherapist to care for a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger. Jannik knew nothing of this, and his physiotherapist did not know that he was using a product containing clostebol. “The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused the inadvertent contamination.”
The ITIA announced the resolution of the case on Tuesday, stating that Sinner will forfeit the $325,000 in prize money and 400 ranking points he earned at the tournament in Indian Wells, California, where his first positive drug test occurred.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme. “I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
Sinner won the Cincinnati Open on Monday, and he is considered a favorite to win the U.S. Open, which starts in New York next week.You can check out the US Open schedule, where to watch, and betting odds at the link below.
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