By: Ari Litinski
Recently, tensions have risen between members of the tennis community as Italian world #1 number, Jannik Sinner, will be allowed to participate in the 2024 U.S. Open despite testing positive for Clostebol twice, a banned anabolic steroid. According to Sky Sports, Sinner first tested positive for the substance during Indian Wells, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament taking place in March of 2024. Eight days later, he was flagged again. As a result, Jannik Sinner was stripped of his prize money and points earned at the Californian tournament, and was on his way to being suspended from the tour for a certain period of time by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Sinner and his team appealed against the decision, stating that his fitness trainer had purchased an over-the-counter healing cream so that Jannik’s physiotherapist could treat a cut on his finger. The fitness trainer apparently did not know that the product contained Clostebol–a substance found within various products sold in Italian pharmacies, yet banned by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Sinner’s physiotherapist did not use gloves to treat his wound, which “coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body…[lead to]…the inadvertent contamination,” his team told CBS News. After reviewing the case and considering Sinner’s explanation for the incident, the ITIA determined that the violation was not intentional. With this decision, Sinner still lost his points and prize money, but was allowed back on the tour without facing any suspension.
While the ATP and ITIA believe that the decision was reasonable and fair, various members of the tennis community do not share the same belief. Current ATP tennis professional Denis Shapovalov spoke on the matter. The professional posted on Twitter, “Different rules for different players.” He also tweeted, “Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now.” Tennis phenom Nick Kyrgios had some similar words to share. The Australian tweeted, “Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance…you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…yeah nice [sad emoji].” Kyrgios was further enraged by statements purporting that Sinner “accidentally” failed his drug tests. He later tweeted, “Accidental? You truly believe that the physio rubbed physio cream onto a cut that made him fail 2 anabolic steroid tests. C’mon potato.” This opinion was further spoken upon by Liam Broady, another professional. He tweeted, “Whether Sinner was doping or not, this is not right. Plenty of players go through the same thing and have to wait months or YEARS for their innocence to be declared. Not a good look.” In addition to this, professional Tennys Sandgren shared his thoughts on how the ATP favors players that generate more revenue for the association: “ATP always looks out for their money makers…good for business, bad for transparency and integrity.”
The controversy of Sinner’s case has brought up various opinions and beliefs that question the overall equality held up by the ATP. To me, it seems as though the Italian’s faulty drug tests have led the association to do what is best for their business, even if that means not taking the most fair actions. However, it is worth noting that Sinner tested positive for having only a billionth of a gram of Clostebol, according to CBS News. With this being so, it may be true that a 2 year suspension, as mentioned by Nick Kyrgios, may have been too harsh of a consequence for the tennis star to face. With the 2024 U.S. Open just around the corner, will Jannik be able to put these stressful times behind him and rise to the occasion? Only time will tell.
Scribemen Magazine 