Jannik Sinner’s Sportsman of the Year award dream spoiled due to 3-month ban from WADA

Jannik Sinner was the most successful player last season, lifting eight ATP titles, which also included two Majors.

Jannik Sinner’s Sportsman of the Year award dream spoiled due to 3-month ban from WADA

Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

Jannik Sinner is serving his three-month ban as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reached a case resolution agreement after their demand for a lengthy ban of one to two years. Because of the ban, his nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award has been withdrawn.

He tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol last year and was acquitted of any charges by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). But WADA approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to demand a lengthy ban before withdrawing their appeal.

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Sinner was handed the three-month ban because of the negligence of his team members and will be free to play ATP tournaments after May 4. Amidst his ban, he and his team have been informed about the cancellation of the Laureus nomination.

Following discussions by the Laureus Academy it has been decided that Jannik Sinner’s nomination for this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn. We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and – whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved – feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible.

Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick said in a statement

Sinner was the most successful ATP player last year, having won eight official titles, including two Majors and his first ATP Finals trophy. He ended the season with a 73-6 win-loss record, the best since Andy Murray‘s 78-9 in 2016.

Jannik Sinner plans to improve his game during three-month doping ban

Jannik Sinner won’t be wasting his time during the three-month ban, as he wants to employ it wisely by working on his game. As he won’t be able to train in official courts, he has chosen the Roquebrune Country Club (a private club) in Monte Carlo to train for the clay season.

Jannik Sinner (8)
Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

Following his ban, he could make his comeback at the Italian Open, which is scheduled to start on May 7. Sinner’s fitness coach, Marco Panichi, who the World No.1 hired last year, said the ban could help the team dedicate a lot of time to the improvement of certain aspects of Sinner’s game.

The fact that we have so much time is almost like planning for a track and field season. In such a long period of time, we can definitely go more deeply into features and conditions that we want to improve.

Marco Panichi told Sky Sports Italy

Sinner has played and won just one tournament this season. He beat World No.2 Alexander Zverev to take home his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, after which he decided to withdraw from Rotterdam Open.