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Jannik Sinner’s reserved demeanor during his march to the US Open title raised eyebrows, and with good reason. The 23-year-old Italian world number one was embroiled in a doping scandal that shook the tennis world. Weeks before the tournament, it was revealed that Sinner had twice failed anti-doping tests earlier in the year, testing positive for low levels of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid.
Although an independent tribunal found Sinner bore no fault or negligence, the controversy cast a shadow over his second Grand Slam victory. “It was very difficult for me to enjoy in certain moments,” Sinner said after his victory over Taylor Fritz. “Whoever knows me better, they know that something was wrong.”
Sinner’s case has led to widespread debate and questions about the transparency of the process. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is still reviewing whether to appeal the ruling, leaving many wondering whether Sinner’s win will always carry a cloud of suspicion. Despite his exoneration, some in the tennis community, including peers like Nick Kyrgios, have questioned whether Sinner received special treatment due to his ranking and financial resources.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has refuted claims of preferential treatment, stating that Sinner’s case was handled according to the facts. The ITIA’s investigation concluded that Sinner was inadvertently contaminated by his physiotherapist, who had used Trofodermin, a clostebol-containing cream, on himself before treating Sinner.
Sinner, the fifth Italian tennis player to test positive for clostebol, has since distanced himself from the team involved. While he praised their professionalism, he admitted he was no longer confident working with them due to their mistakes.
