The scandal of the day! The world number one tennis player was caught on doping twice, but was not disqualified

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Italian tennis player Yannick Sinner (ATP No. 1) is not guilty of any wrongdoing after testing positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024. It is worth noting that the president of the ATP is Italian Andrea Gaudenzi.

Sinner provided a sample at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, USA, on March 10, 2024, which contained the presence of the clostebol metabolite in low concentrations. Another out-of-competition sample taken eight days later also tested positive for the same metabolite, again in low concentrations.

Clostebol is an anabolic agent that helps build muscle and recover from hard training.

After each positive test, a provisional suspension was applied. In both cases, Sinner successfully appealed the Provisional Suspension and was thus able to continue playing.

The player explained that the substance entered his system as a result of an infection from a member of the support team who applied an over-the-counter spray (available in Italy) containing clostebol to his own skin to treat a small wound. This team member applied the spray from March 5 to 13, during which time he also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in an unknowing transdermal infection.

"Yannick did not know anything about it, and his physiotherapist did not know that he was using a product containing clostebol. The physiotherapist worked with Yannick without gloves and touched various injuries on his skin," the Italian's team said in a press release.

After consulting with scientific experts, who concluded that the player's explanations were credible, the ITIA did not object to the player's appeals to overturn the suspensions.

However, according to the WADC and TADP, Sinner's results, prize money and ranking points from the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, where he tested positive for clostebol, were canceled.

Karen Moorhouse, CEO of ITIA, said the organization takes any positive test very seriously.

"We will always apply the strict procedures established by WADA. ITIA conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to the positive tests, with which Sinner and his representatives fully cooperated. Following this investigation, the ITIA accepted the player's explanation as to the source of the clostebol and that the presence of the substance was not intentional. This was also accepted by the tribunal," the official said.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!