World No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month suspension following positive tests for the banned substance clostebol.
The suspension, effective from February 9 to May 4, 2025, allows Sinner to return in time for the Italian Open and French Open.
Sinner maintains that the clostebol entered his system unintentionally due to negligence within his support team, specifically citing his physiotherapist’s use of a contaminated product.
Despite being cleared of intentional wrongdoing by an independent tribunal, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This led to a settlement resulting in the agreed suspension.
The tennis community has expressed mixed reactions. Australian player Nick Kyrgios criticized the perceived leniency of the ban, suggesting that fairness in tennis is compromised.
Conversely, others have defended Sinner, acknowledging the unintentional nature of the violation.
Sinner is permitted to resume official training on April 13, 2025, ahead of his return to competition. In light of the settlement, WADA has withdrawn its appeal to CAS.