Tennis world number one Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban from the sport after violating anti-doping rules. The Italian player, 23, tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 tournament in March.
Sinner’s ban was initially set to last until May 4, but he has agreed to accept a reduced sentence of three months through a case resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This means Sinner will be ineligible to compete until May 4 but can train from April 13 and return in time for the French Open later that month.
The ban was initially imposed after an independent tribunal found that Sinner’s trainer, Umberto Ferrara, had brought an over-the-counter healing spray containing clostebol to Indian Wells. The player’s physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, then contaminated Sinner’s skin with the substance during a massage.
Sinner has accepted responsibility for his team’s negligence and has expressed relief that the case is finally resolved. His legal counsel said that Sinner had no intent or knowledge of the contamination and gained no competitive advantage from it.
The three-month ban may seem lenient to some, given that a two-year suspension was initially feared. However, the timing of the ban is seen as a positive outcome for Sinner, allowing him to compete in the French Open and Wimbledon without being undercooked for the U.S. Open.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6138169/2025/02/15/jannik-sinner-doping-ban-wada-how-long