Top-ranked men's tennis player Jannik Sinner maintains his innocence, asserting that he's not engaged in any wrongdoings, following his escape from a doping ban.
On a Tuesday, the International Tennis Integrity Agency declared that the Italian tennis ace was not accountable for any wrongdoing or carelessness, despite testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, at minimal levels from a sample collected on March 10 at the Indian Wells tournament. A subsequent sample gathered eight days later also showed traces of the steroid at low levels.
"It's not perfect before a grand slam, but in my opinion, I know that I haven't done anything wrong," the 23-year-old stated. "I will always respect these anti-doping rules."
Sinner currently holds the top seed position in the men's category at the US Open and will square off against American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round next week.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Sinner attributed the positive tests to "unintentional Clostebol contamination" resulting from treatment by his physiotherapist. He also revealed that his physiotherapist had been applying an over-the-counter spray to their own skin to treat a minor wound, not on Sinner.
On a Friday, Sinner announced his separation from his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness coach Umberto Ferrara due to this incident.
"We've worked together for two years, achieving a great deal of success, and building a strong team around me," he shared. "However, due to these mistakes, I don't feel confident enough to continue working with them. All I need now is some fresh air."
Sinner acknowledged that he couldn't control how the situation might affect his reputation.
"Those who know me well know that I haven't done, and would never do anything, that goes against the rules," he said.
On a Friday, fellow ATP player Frances Tiafoe was requested to comment on Sinner. Tiafoe had lost to Sinner in the Cincinnati Open final on Monday, one day prior to ITIA's announcement.
"The relevant authorities made their call – they went ahead and cleared him to compete. That's about all I can say on the matter," Tiafoe said. "Good luck to him at the US Open, and I'm just excited about my own preparation for the Open."
Despite the controversy, Sinner continues to show his passion for tennis, often practicing for hours each day. His favorite sport remains tennis, and he hopes to win many more matches and tournaments in the future.
Recently, Tiafoe and Sinner were set to face each other in a friendly tennis match, showcasing their love for the sport of tennis.
