Jannik Sinner Cleared of Fault in Doping Case, Struggles Remain

Jannik Sinner, the world number one in tennis, has been deeply affected both physically and mentally by an investigation into his positive tests for a banned substance, according to his coach Darren Cahill. Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, a muscle-building steroid, in March, but an independent tribunal cleared him of any fault last week.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that Sinner inadvertently ingested the substance through his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, who used a contaminated medical spray. Since first learning about the doping violations in April, Sinner has won tournaments in Halle and Cincinnati and achieved the world number one ranking.

However, Cahill noted that despite his on-court success, Sinner’s body language and enthusiasm have noticeably diminished, showing signs of strain from the investigation. Sinner even missed the Olympics due to tonsillitis which Cahill attributed to the stress. The World Anti-Doping Agency is reviewing the tribunal’s decision to determine whether it will appeal.

Some players claimed that authorities treated Jannik Sinner differently because of his status as the world number one. Chris Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, suggested that authorities might protect top players to avoid negative press. However, Sinner’s lawyer, Jamie Singer refuted the notion of special treatment, asserting that the ITIA took the case seriously because of Sinner’s high profile and independent tribunals made the final decision.

The incident raised questions about the responsibility of Sinner’s support team. Naldi used a medical spray containing the banned substance, despite warnings from fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, who also serves as a qualified pharmacist. The team is now evaluating whether they will retain Naldi and Ferrara as they prepare for the US Open.