DPA
Berlin
Anti-doping authorities must take action against world number one Jannik Sinner after he escaped a ban by a tennis agency despite two positive tests for a banned steroid, German anti doping expert Fritz Sorgel has said.
“It stinks to high heaven,” Sorgel told broadcasters Sport1 on Wednesday.
What happened? The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Tuesday that the Italian tested positive twice for low levels of clostebol in March, a few weeks after his first grand slam title at the Australian Open.
The ITIA absolved Sinner of fault and negligence as it accepted his explanation that the substance had accidentally entered his system via a product his physiotherapist had used to treat a small wound.
He lost his ranking points and prize money because one of the positive tests came at the Indian Wells Masters tournament where he reached the semi-finals.
The ITIA ruling can be appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as well as Italian doping authorities. WADA told dpa it would carefully examine the ruling before deciding whether or not to bring the case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Calls for sanctions
Sorgel called for these authorities to get involved.
‘If someone tests positive for clostebol, they are automatically banned. The sequence after a positive test that is disputed is to go to the National Anti-Doping Agency, to WADA, to CAS. Why can Sinner then be acquitted by a court?” Sorgel said.
He called for a line to be drawn because athletes have bee cleared “on the basis of similar excuses” and that “it will go on and on” if no firm action is taken.
“Clostebol automatically leads to a two to four-year ban. There is no way around it,” he said.
Another excuse He also questioned the reasoning of Sinner’s camp.
“An anabolic steroid spray for wound treatment – ridiculous. Other substances such as antibiotics are more important for wounds. I suspect this spray is being marketed specifically for high-performance sport through unofficial channels and on the internet,” Sorgel said.
“Even if he massages him every day, I think it’s very unlikely that the clostebol penetrates the skin in such quantities that it would show up in the doping test.
“This method of excusing that it is absorbed through the skin has been increasingly used recently. And this is now another case.”
Sorgel added that products containing clostebol in certain concentrations “already have a doping effect.”
Kyrgios and Shapovalov also critical There was also criticism from other players after the ruling was announced.
Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios of Australia named it “ridiculous - whether it was accidental or planned” on X. “You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance ... you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced.”
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov said: “Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now.”
Sinner backed by coach
Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, meannwhile backed the player in an ESPN interview.
“Jannik would never do anything like that intentionally. It’s an unfortunate situation, but the truth came out,” he said.
Cahill said they were informed about the test results later in March and that the case affected Sinner, who successfully appealed against a provisional suspension.
“It wore him down physically and mentally, he got tonsillitis, missed the Olympics. We’re not looking for any sorrow. Just thankful there is no ban attached,” Cahill said.
Sinner moves on ahead of US Open Sinner said in a statement on Instagram that “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me” and “will continue to do everything I can to ensure I comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme.”
Sinner, 23, won the Cincinnati Masters early in the week and is considered a top contender at the US Open which start on Monday.
