Jannik Sinner accepts three-month ban following settlement with WADA

WADA acknowledged Jannik Sinner's claim of unintentionally ingesting the banned substance but upheld his suspension.

Jannik Sinner accepts three-month ban following settlement with WADA

Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

On Saturday, Jannik Sinner accepted an immediate three-month ban from tennis in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Italian star entered into a case resolution agreement with the anti-doping body after he violated a doping rule that led him to test positive for clostebol in March 2024.

Sinner was tested twice for clostebol and was not hit with a provisional suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The World No.1 successfully appealed the case which allowed him to continue playing before the ITIA finally cleared him of “no fault or negligence” for the failed tests.

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However, WADA lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for Sinner’s doping case. The anti-doping body was seeking for one-year suspension to be given to Sinner. The hearing was supposed to begin in April, but the case has now been withdrawn by the body after Sinner agreed to serve a three-month ban.

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The suspension will run from 9 February until 4 May. WADA revealed in a statement that it accepted Sinner’s explanation that he inadvertently took the banned substance but was suspended to reinforce that “an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence”.

WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat, and that his exposure to clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage. However, under the Code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome.

WADA revealed via its website

Sinner will no longer participate in the upcoming ATP 500 Doha Open in Qatar, which is slated to begin next week. The Italian will be eligible to play again at the French Open, which starts on May 19.

Daniil Medvedev sends a clear warning to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, as hopes to fight to win Grand Slams

Jannik Sinner continued with his dominance this season in the ATP after beating Alexander Zverev to win the 2025 Australian Open. The Grand Slam title was the 23-year-old’s third of his career and in just over a year. Also, alongside him is Carlos Alcaraz, who recently won the Rotterdam Open.

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Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Reuters)

Recently, Daniil Medvedev sent a clear warning to the duo after reaching the semifinals of the Open 13 Provence tournament in France. The Russian star revealed that despite their dominance, he will keep fighting until he gets his opportunity to win a Grand Slam again.

It’s very possible and they’re on the right track, but in tennis, you never know. There are too many things that can happen. The most important thing for me, and for the others too because they are great players, is that you keep going, play, fight, and you’ll have opportunities.

Daniil Medvedev said via motocicilismo

Medvedev has only one Grand Slam title which came at the 2021 US Open. A year before, Alcaraz won his first and almost two years before Sinner claimed his debut title at the Australian Open. However, Alcaraz and Sinner have now won four and three, respectively, while Medvedev still holds just one.