The governing body of men's tennis released a statement welcoming the news that Jannik Sinner was cleared of wrongdoing after he tested positive for a banned substance.
Sinner's run to the Cincinnati Open title ensured he would remain the world No. 1 until at least October. The Australian Open champion has wowed spectators this year with his exceptional level throughout the season.
Fans were stunned by the news of the Italian testing positive for the banned substance clostebol during the Indian Wells Open, revealed less than 24 hours after the 23-year-old defeated Frances Tiafoe to secure the Cincinnati Open title.
Sinner avoided a ban after being cleared of any wrongdoing. He complied fully with an investigation that cleared him of any fault for the substance entering his system. However, he did lose his prize money and ranking points from the Indian Wells Open.
The investigation found the explanation from Sinner's team that a negligible amount of clostebol entered his system through a cut after massages from his physiotherapist to be plausible and cleared him as a result.
Upon hearing the news of Sinner testing positive for clostebol, some players were outraged. This included Nick Kyrgios, who thinks the world No. 1 should be suspended for two years, whether or not the substance had deliberately entered his system.
By contrast, the ATP welcomed Sinner's avoidance of a suspension and clearing of any wrongdoing. The organization also praised the robustness of the investigation and the evaluation of the facts of the case.
"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."
The governing body also acknowledged that the matter had been stressful for Sinner and his team, saying the positive tests reinforced the need for players and those around them to be careful with the products they use.
"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."
Many fans are unhappy with the case being kept private for the previous five months. They argue that these incidents should always be made public out of respect for fellow players and fans watching inside stadiums and at home.
However, others think these comments are unfair since the rules state that cases will not be made public if a player does not accept a provisional suspension. Sinner did not accept his and got it overturned upon appeal, which is all within the rules.
One thing all fans, players, and analysts can agree on is that this is an ugly story for the sport. It is unfortunate that the current World No. 1 is in the spotlight for matters like this off the court. Sinner will hope to put the story behind him and that fans embrace him for his blistering style of tennis.
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