February 15, 2025: Italy’s world number one tennis player, Jannik Sinner, has agreed to serve a three-month suspension following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over two positive doping tests from the previous year. According to reports from Olympics.com, Sinner’s suspension will run from February 9 to May 4, which means he will be eligible to return to competitive tennis in time for the Italian Open, starting on May 7.
This suspension will also allow the 23-year-old to participate in the upcoming French Open, which is scheduled to begin on May 19. Sinner, who has previously won the Australian Open twice and the US Open once, will be aiming for his first-ever French Open title after having reached the semifinals in the 2024 edition.
The case stemmed from a positive test for the banned substance clostebol, which was detected during last year’s Indian Wells tournament. Initially, the International Tennis Integrity Unit (ITF) cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing. However, WADA appealed this decision, leading to a legal battle that resulted in the three-month suspension.
Sinner maintains that the clostebol entered his system unintentionally, possibly through massages and sports therapy provided by a member of his support staff. In a statement, WADA acknowledged that Sinner did not intend to cheat, and the substance did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit. However, they emphasized that athletes are responsible for the actions of their entourage, as per the rules under the Code.
The suspension allows Sinner to resume training on April 13, 2025. WADA also confirmed that they have officially withdrawn their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), finalizing the settlement.
Sinner expressed his acceptance of the suspension, noting that the case had weighed heavily on him for nearly a year. He also emphasized his understanding of the importance of WADA’s rules for protecting the integrity of the sport. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love,” Sinner said in a statement.
