Jannik Sinner suspension, explained: Revisiting the 2024 doping controversy and tennis star's comeback
Jannik Sinner was riding high to start 2024. He had just been ranked as the No. 1 men's tennis player in the world for the first time in his career. By March, though, a near year-long controversy began and clouded over his tennis career.
Sinner tested positive for PEDs twice at the beginning of 2024. He followed the trend of most athletes when they fail a drug test and said he had no knowledge of the situation. Sinner claimed that his fitness trainer purchased an over-the-counter spray in Italy that contained a banned substance, and the trainer then supposedly gave the spray to Sinner's physiotherapist to treat their finger. That physiotherapist then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves, and the tennis star claimed that was when the transfer happened.
Sinner was provisionally suspended and appealed the decision. He was cleared by one organization, but then another challenged that ruling and threatened a suspension. Sinner was able to get it down to only a three-month ban, was free of it by the 2025 French Open, and is now hoping to put it behind him as he continues being the No. 1-ranked men's tennis player in the world.
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Here is more on Sinner's doping controversy and his return to tennis.
Why was Jannik Sinner suspended?
Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid during the 2024 Indian Wells Tournament. He tested positive for a substance called Clostebol, which is notably banned in tennis, and he was first popped for the steroid during Indian Wells, and then again eight days later in an out-of-competition sample.
Sinner was provisionally suspended, but he appealed while an investigation was conducted. The International Tennis Integrity Agency, or ITIA, ruled that there was "a finding of No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility."
Sinner was suspended by the World-Anti Doping Agency. The organization challenged ITIA's ruling, accepted that Sinner "did not intend to cheat," but also maintained that "an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage's negligence."
WADA was reportedly going to go after a 1-2 year ban for Sinner, but when the dust settled on the case, he was suspended for three months.
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What is Clostebol?
Clostebol is a "synthetic-androgenic steroid (SAS)", per Synapse. It bears a close resemblance to testosterone structurally and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Clostebol is supposed to be used in the "treatment for muscle wasting diseases, osteoporosis, severe burns, and certain types of anemia."
If you are familiar with the name, it is the same PED that Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for in 2022, which earned him an 80-game suspension.
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Jannik Sinner doping suspension timeline
February 12, 2024
Sinner's fitness trainer purchases the spray in Italy that contains Clostebol.
March 5-13, 2024
Sinner's physiotherapist used the spray to treat a cut on their finger. They also were giving Sinner daily treatment without wearing gloves.
March 10, 2024
Sinner tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol.
March 18, 2024
Sinner tested positive for Clostebol for the second time.
April 4, 2024
Sinner is notified of the first positive test and is given a provisional suspension. He appeals the decision successfully, and the suspension is lifted on April 5.
April 17, 2024
Sinner is notified of the second positive test and is once again provisionally suspended. He again appeals successfully, and the suspension is lifted on April 18.
May 30, 2024
The ITIA officially charges Sinner with their anti-doping rule violations.
June 19, 2024
Sinner's legal team submits its defense, which includes detailed explanations of what happened with the trainer and physiotherapist. They argue that there is no fault or negligence for Sinner.
August 2024
An independent tribunal gave its ruling that it agreed with the defense and found no wrongdoing. No ban is placed on Sinner.
September 2024
WADA appealed the decision from the tribunal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They initially seek a ban between one and two years.
February 9, 2025
After nearly five months of deliberation, Sinner reaches a settlement with WADA, and accepts a three-month suspension.
February 15, 2025
WADA announces Sinner's three-month suspension and details that it will be served from February 9th and will end on May 4, 2025. This re-angers the tennis community because the suspension fit like a puzzle piece between the Australian Open and French Open, meaning Sinner didn't have to miss any majors.
April 13, 2025
With less than a month left on his suspension, Sinner is permitted to resume official training so he can get in match shape by the time it ends.
May 4, 2025
Sinner's ban is lifted and he is eligible to compete again.
May 5, 2025
Sinner wastes no time and makes his comeback at the 2025 Italian Open event.
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Jannik Sinner public statement
Sinner released several statements during the year-long doping suspension ordeal. One of the first was about the ITIA and the ruling of the independent tribunal. In it, Sinner said, "I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA's anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance."
â Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) August 20, 2024
This first statement was then followed by the appeal from WADA and Sinner's subsequent three-month suspension. When he accepted WADA's settlement, he released another statement.
In this one, he said, "This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year. I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise Wadaâs strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted Wadaâs offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.â
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How the tennis world reacted
The tennis world wasn't happy. Nick Kyrgios was outspoken was his disappointment, not even with Sinner but the fact that he wasn't given an instant ban.
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 creamâŠ. Yeah nice đ https://t.co/13qR0F9nH2
â Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 20, 2024
Kyrgios also wasn't happy when the WADA agreed on just a three month suspension.
So wada come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.
â Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) February 15, 2025
Canadian tennis player Denis Shapovalov also wasn't happy when the first ruling came out that Sinner wasn't going to be suspended by the ITIA.
Canât imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now
â Shapo (@denis_shapo) August 20, 2024
Different rules for different players
â Shapo (@denis_shapo) August 20, 2024
Serena Williams was doing an interview with TIME magazine. About Sinner she said, "I love the guy, I love his game. He's great for the sport. I've been put down so much, I don't want to bring anyone down. Men's tennis needs him. [But] if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest. I would have gotten grand slams taken away from me."
Tim Henman called the three-month settlement "too convenient" after it became clear Sinner wouldn't have to miss a major.
Novak Djokovic said, "a majority of the players I've talked to in the locker room ⊠are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled." He called into question the fairness of the ruling saying, "you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player if you have access to the top lawyers." Djokovic was also outspoken saying there is a current lack of trust with the ITIA and WADA.
Alexander Zverev was also annoyed with the length of the suspension. He said, "You're either not guilty of anything, then you shouldn't be banned at all, but if you are guilty of something, then I don't think three months is a ban for taking steroids."
There is also worry, about the ripple effect this ruling is going to have on future cases. German pharmacist and doping expert Fritz Sorgel said, "What WADA has done here will mean the end of the anti-doping system in its current form. In the future, anyone will be able to refer to the Sinner case and others and request lenient penalties despite positive doping tests. They will just need a semblance of an excuse."
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Other notable suspensions in tennis
There have been nine notable suspensions in tennis history, including Sinner. He becomes the fifth male tennis player to be suspended, joining four women.
Andre Agassi, 1997
Agassi dropped down the world tennis rankings in 1997. He tested positive for methamphetamines, but he only received a three-month suspension after he claimed it was from a spiked drink. Agassi revealed in his autobiography, released in 2009, that he lied about the reasoning for the positive test and had actually been addicted to crystal meth in 1997.
Richard Gasquet, 2009
Gasquet tested positive for cocaine use. It was later dubbed the "Cocaine Kiss Controversy" because he claimed that the cocaine got into his system from kissing a woman at a Miami nightclub. Initially, WADA sought a two-year ban, but Gasquet was given a one-year ban due to how small the amount of cocaine in his system was. This was further reduced to only six weeks, but it came at a time that he missed the French Open and Wimbledon in 2009.
Marin Cilic, 2013
Cilic tested positive for Nikethamide, which is a stimulant that helps respiratory function, as it increases blood flow and a person's oxygen intake. His excuse was that the substance was accidentally mixed in with glucose tablets he bought at a pharmacy in France. The ITF accepted his explanation and, rather than the two-year ban, gave him a nine-month suspension. Cilic appealed the ban to the CAS, and it was reduced to four months.
Victor Troicki, 2013
Troicki got flagged the same month that Cilic did, but he didn't test positive for anything at first; he just refused to test. Troicki claimed he was ill and had a fear of needles, so he provided a urine sample rather than a blood test. His explanation was rejected, and he was given an 18-month ban. He appealed to CAS and had his sentence reduced to 12 months.
Martina Hingis, 2007
Hingis tested positive for Benzoylecgonine, which is a cocaine metabolite, and was suspended two years. Hingis denied the result and had her own private test done that came back negative. Her suspension was upheld, especially because she announced her retirement. Hingis didn't return to tennis until 2013, but became part of the world No. 1-ranked doubles team.
Barbora Strycova, 2013
Strycova was flagged for Sibutramine, which is a banned stimulant, as it is typically used for weight loss and to suppress appetites. She admitted to take the weight-loss supplement Acai Berry Thin. She was found to truly be trying to lose weight and not cheat, and was given a six-month ban instead of two years.
Maria Sharapova, 2016
Sharapova failed a WADA drug test at the 2016 Australian Open. She got popped for meldonium, which is used to treat heart disease. Sharapova had been using it for over 10 years to treat diabetes symptoms, the flu and a magnesium deficiency. It got added to the banned substance list in the beginning of 2016. Sharapova claimed that she didn't know about the change, but was still initially given a two-year suspension, and it was reduced to 15 months.
Simona Halep, 2022
Halep got suspended in 2022 for testing positive for Roxadustat. It is an anti-anemia drug that she claimed came from a supplement she was taking. Halep was provisionally suspended, but then faced a second doping charge due to irregularities with her biological passport. She was handed a four-year ban on September 12, 2023, retroactive to October 2022. It was dropped to a nine-month suspension by CAS and since she had already served that time provisionally, was reinstated.