Tennis world number one and 2024 Cincinnati Open champion, Jannik Sinner, was declared free of doping charges on August 20, after previously failing two anti-doping tests in March for banned substance, clostebol.
Sinner was embroiled in doping allegations after tests were conducted during the Indian Wells tournament in March.
Following his semi-final finish in the tournament, Sinner underwent another test, conducted out of competition eight days later, which also returned a positive result.
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The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Tuesday, August 20, that Sinner had failed the tests. However, the Italian successfully appealed the results, arguing that the substance was accidentally transferred by his physiotherapist.
In a statement released on Tuesday on Sinner’s behalf, it was explained that the violation occurred after his fitness trainer purchased a product to treat 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 statement read.
The statement further explained that the physiotherapist treated Sinner without gloves, and, due to various skin lesions on Sinner’s body, inadvertently caused contamination.
Sinner added, “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping program, and I have a team around me that is meticulous in their own compliance.”
Sinner was found to bear “no fault or negligence” and is free to compete in the 2024 US Open, which began its preliminary stage on Monday, August 19.
