The intense controversy surrounding alleged steroid use by top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner continues, as multiple fellow tennis players have voiced their displeasure following the news he will not be suspended over positive drug tests.
In March, Sinner, 23, tested positive for twice for a metabolite of clostebol, which is a banned anabolic steroid. But on Tuesday, Aug. 20 the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in a press release that low levels of the banned performance-enhancing drug entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist.
“The player explained that the substance had entered their system as a result of contamination from a support team member,” the ITIA said, adding that Sinner said the application “result[ed] in unknowing transdermal contamination.”
“Following consultation with scientific experts, who concluded that the player’s explanation was credible, the ITIA did not oppose the player’s appeals to lift the provisional suspensions,” the agency continued, explaining that after both tests, “Sinner …