Jannik Sinner Accepts Three-Month Suspension, Aiming for Quick Return

ROME, Italy — Jannik Sinner, the world’s top-ranked male tennis player, has accepted a three-month suspension following an anti-doping violation. The decision, announced Saturday, comes after Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, in March 2024.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had previously appealed a ruling that allowed Sinner to continue competing after the violation. An independent tribunal, convened by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), had accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance entered his system unknowingly through a topical spray used by a member of his team.

The suspension began on February 9 and will extend until May 4, allowing Sinner to resume training on April 13. Sinner will miss key tournaments, including the ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami, but will return just in time for the French Open set to start on May 25.

“This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year, and I realized WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love,” Sinner said in a statement. “I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings with a three-month suspension.”

WADA’s statement acknowledged that Sinner had no intention to cheat and that the exposure to clostebol provided no performance-enhancing benefits. However, the agency emphasized that athletes are accountable for the actions of their entourage.

Sinner had originally tested positive on two occasions during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Following the incident, he lost ranking points and prize money from the event, yet continued competing amidst ongoing investigations into the doping allegations.

Legal counsel for Sinner, Jamie Singer of Onside Law, expressed relief at the outcome. “It is clear that Jannik had no intent, no knowledge, and gained no competitive advantage. Regrettably, errors made by members of his team led to this situation,” Singer stated.

The agreement between WADA and Sinner effectively ends a lengthy saga for the athlete, who had been under scrutiny since his positive tests last year. Sinner now hopes to return to the court in time for the Italian Open in Rome, another significant competition in the lead-up to the French Open.