“Bad for transparency,” Tennys Sandgren blasts ATP for protecting Jannik Sinner amid drug scandal

World No.1 Jannik Sinner's drug test storyline came a few hours after the Italian's title win in Cincinnati.

“Bad for transparency,” Tennys Sandgren blasts ATP for protecting Jannik Sinner amid drug scandal

Tennys Sandgren and Jannik Sinner (via Scroll/Tennis Majors)

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing after testing positive for a banned substance twice in March. The Italian player had low levels of clostebol, a muscle-building steroid, in his system during the Indian Wells tournament.

This caused a lot of anger in the tennis world. Nick Kyrgios and Tennys Sandgren were some of the main voices criticizing both Sinner and the ATP for the situation.

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This is ridiculous. Lmfao, secondhand steroids through a massage? ATP always looks out for its moneymakers. It's good for business, bad for transparency and integrity.
Tennys Sandgren wrote on X

According to the World Anti-Doping Code, when a player tests positive for certain substances, they are automatically suspended. However, players can request a review by an independent tribunal to lift the suspension.

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Sinner successfully appealed both times and explained how the substance got into his system. Experts found his explanation believable, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) agreed not to challenge his appeal.

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Nick Kyrgios on Jannik Sinner

ATP issues statement on Jannik Sinner

The ATP has made a statement on their website about Jannik Sinner and his recent drug test. In March, the Italian tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid. However, he will not be suspended. The ITIA found that the banned substance got into his body unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist.

Jannik Sinner Cincinnati Open
Jannik Sinner at the Cincinnati Open (Image via Imago)
We are encouraged that no fault or negligence has been found on Jannik Sinner’s part. We would also like to acknowledge the robustness of the investigation process and independent evaluation of the facts under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), which has allowed him to continue competing. This has been a challenging matter for Jannik and his team, and underscores the need for players and their entourages to take utmost care in the use of products or treatments. Integrity is paramount in our sport.
ATP said in a statement on their website

Sinner just won the Cincinnati Open on Monday (August 19). He is one of the top players expected to perform well at the US Open, which begins in New York next week. During the Indian Wells event in March, the World No.1 tested positive for a small amount of clostebol. This anabolic steroid is banned, but it can sometimes be used for medical purposes. A similar substance led to San Diego Padres player Fernando Tatis Jr.’s suspension.

Sinner tested positive again eight days later, in an out-of-competition test. Although he was temporarily suspended, he appealed the decision and was able to continue playing. However, he will lose the $325,000 prize money and 400 points he won at Indian Wells.

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