Tennis world number 1 tested positive from substance abuse

Tennis men’s world No1 player Jannik Sinner, was under the influence of a banned substance in March as it has been revealed, but was later declared not guilty after proving he had been asked to use them by his physiotherapist.

During the Indian Wells hard court tournament in California, Sinner tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological purposes. Eight days later, Sinner tested positive again after he was tested out side of the competition.

Sinner was suspended after the test results and was requested to return money and deducted the points earned at Indian Wells. But he will not face punishment because an independent tribunal said he didn’t do it on a purpose.

After all the scandal Sinner said his test results happened because a member of his support team used an over-the-counter spray that obtain clostebol to heal a small wound. Then his team mate then gave him massages, causing contamination through “skin lesions” on the player’s body.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Tuesday, the Agency published the case for the first time and said they accepted Sinner’s explanation.

After being forgiven by the ITIA Sinner’s representative revealed that Sinner was touched by physiotherapist who had skin lesions that was bought by fitness trainer.

Sinner’s representative said “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.”

According to the ITIA, on 15th August the independent panel held a meeting and discussed the case “determined a finding of No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility.”

After being not found guilty by the panel, Sinner revealed that he will not dwell in this scandal. He also highlighted that he will comply with the ITIA anti-doping programme.

Sinner said “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 on Monday emerged as the victorious of Cincinnati Open and he is one of the favourites at the US Open that will begin in New York next week. He climped high at ATP rankings in June and is among the best players of the new generation in men’s tennis, such as Carlos Alcaraz.

He won his major title Australian Open in January and reached the semi-finals at the French Open in June and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in July then missed out in Paris Olympics after he sustained tonsilitis injury.

BY LUCKY SEANEGO