He tested positive for doping but was cleared.It’s a storm moving around. Jannik Sinner, the first Italian tennis player to become world number one, He was put on trial for a double test that found traces (albeit traces) of the steroid but was cleared by the Tennis Anti-Doping Agency for “involuntary contamination.” The ruling came on August 15, three weeks after he withdrew from Paris 2024 due to “tonsillitis.”
The whole issue, which was covered by the specificity of the long proceedings that took place from the spring until shortly after the end of the Games, is only now beginning to emerge. The champion Sesto Bustrea, who won the Cincinnati tournament last night, has not been ruled out and will be able to play the US Open starting Monday. But the ITIA decision “can be appealed by WADA and NADO”, the world and Italian anti-doping agencies..
Thus remains the sword of Damocles from another action: It remains to be seen whether the dynamics of the incident will convince others as well. “Now I will leave this very difficult and unfortunate period behind me,” said the Italian, who announced the whole thing at the same time as Itea, five days after his acquittal, perhaps not surprisingly after overcoming the obstacle of the American championship in which he had to face physical difficulties again.
Sinner’s legal staff say they are convinced the matter is closed – “There is no doubt that Sinner is innocent, and ITIA has not questioned this fundamental principle. – But the last word will be with WADA. On the other hand, the same intense uncertainty has accompanied him all summer, between the victory in Miami, reaching the number one position in the rankings, the physical problems and the concessions first in Rome and then in the Games, where there was any condemnation. It will have a devastating effect.
It all started when he was informed of the two positive tests: First in the March 10 test at Indian Wells, The second after eight days away from racing. Both for Costipol, Less than a billionth of a gram.
The ITIA explains that Sinner was suspended as a precaution on both occasions.But he was then able to play by appealing to an independent tribunal, a move that automatically suspended the precautionary measure. And so began a long investigation, with numerous “interviews” with the tennis player (“very cooperative,” according to all parties) and his staff.
Then on August 15, an independent court ruled: The “innocent” sinner was an “involuntary contamination.”. The explanation that convinced the judges? Allegedly, a physiotherapist bought a healing ointment from an Italian pharmacy for a severed finger, not knowing that it contained Costipol. He then “played” with Sinner’s body without gloves, touching some skin lesions. Hence the minimum amount. For the sake of the principle of strict liability, Sinner agreed to forfeit the prize money and ATP points (400) from Indian Wells. A solution that Nicola Pietrangeli does not like: “He is innocent but he was punished, but if it was accidental, I ask myself, why were his points and money taken away? It is unacceptable.”
without raising parallel cases “Involuntary pollution” (most famously Borrillo Belém), A precedent for Costebol was Atalanta defender Palomino: 4 months suspension followed by a final acquittal. However, it did not go well for Sara Errani, who was suspended for 8 months in 2019 for a hormone stimulant (Letrozole): she blamed the tortellini prepared by her grandmother, but she was not believed. “It’s ridiculous, a sinner should have been suspended for two years,” the Australian attacked. Kyrgios, former ring.
While the British media hints at Long injury intervals are questionable. (27 days between Madrid and Paris, with a stop in Rome) is somehow linked to the ongoing proceedings. For his part, Sinner reiterated his “maximum respect for anti-doping rules” and wants to look forward. He did so after winning his fifth tournament of the year and extending his lead at the top of the ATP rankings.
“It’s been a tough week,” Sinner said after beating Tiafoe 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 on the Cincinnati hardcourt in the final.“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs this week,” he admitted afterwards. “Now it’s important to recover and prepare for New York, for the US Open. That’s our main focus for this part of the season in North America. I hope I can play some good tennis at Flushing Meadows. I want to thank my team for always being there for me, even in the tough moments and we’ve seen some of that recently.” And not just on the court.
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