World no 1 Jannik Sinner has now accepted a settlement with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in his ongoing doping case. The Italian will be out of action for three months following his two positive doping tests earlier last year.
Sinner, who won the Australian Open just last month, is now banned from 9th February until 4th May. With the three-month suspension, Jannik will miss a total of four Masters 1000 events: Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo Masters and the Madrid Masters. However, he will be back in front of the home crowd at the Rome Masters and the French Open in May.
As we had reported previously, WADA had initiated an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over last years decision by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) not to suspend Sinner. They said to seek a ban of up to two years, but today confirms that it accepts the explanation, basically that he was inadvertently contaminated with the banned substance (clostebol) by his physiotherapist.
The agency said that “an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence” but also that they accepts that he “did not intend to cheat” and “it did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit”. This lead to the conclusion: “Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome.”
Reactions on social media
There’s been many reactions on social media since the news came out. First was Kyrgios, saying it’s a sad day for tennis, and again stating that these rules are not fair for all players. The critics are often pointing to the fact that it seem to be “negotiated” and that the ban is conveniently placed so he will be back in action before the next Slam (Roland Garros).
So wada come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) February 15, 2025
Here are a few other comments we came across:
“It just seems a little bit too convenient.” – Tim Henman
"It just seems a little bit too convenient."
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 15, 2025
Tim Henman reacts to Jannik Sinner accepting an immediate three-month ban from tennis. pic.twitter.com/W3CqA99Jyd
I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore …
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) February 15, 2025
Did the clostebol situation really give Jannik Sinner the illegal edge to win any of his past tournaments?
— Swish ? Tennis (@Zwxsh) February 15, 2025
Probably not.
BUT, they will be forever tainted with a large, dark cloud above them. Tennis fans are not so forgiving, and they certainly do not forget. pic.twitter.com/2JAS3BoxRY
I feel so sorry for likes of @Simona_Halep @MariaSharapova @biahaddad1 @TaraMoore92 Dan Evans, Nicolas Jarry, Jenson Brooksby, Mikeal Ymer all faced lengthy bans.
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) February 15, 2025
Many of which were not intentionally doping for performance enhancing substances and some for just missing a test.
The greatest pain is having to read so much misinformation. So many who have not understood what happened at all who are commenting absurdly.
— Janniksin_Updates (@JannikSinner_Up) February 15, 2025
In support of Jannik as never before.
??? pic.twitter.com/oomt0lgE2H
4 Master 1000 events missed and many saying “it’s a meaningless” part of the season, is so on brand and why tennis suffers to attract a new audience.
— Mark Petchey (@_markpetchey) February 15, 2025
If current fans think it’s not meaningful, why would new fans watch.
This was Sinners comment, via his lawyers:
“This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year.”
“I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise Wada’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted Wada’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”
Please let us know what you think about Sinner being banned below!
