Tennis: Jannik Sinner’s positive test revives debates around doping

Tennis definitely has many holes in the racket when it comes to doping. The case of Jannik Sinner, the Italian player, world number 1, is the latest example. The Italian in March 2024 underwent two positive doping tests for clostebol (anabolic) eight days apart. The first on March 10, during the Indian Wells tournament (he lost the ATP points and the winnings of the tournament during which the positive test), and the second on March 18 out of competition, but just before the Miami tournament. Certainly the quantities were tiny in his urine, but they were there.

A very fragile defense

In his defense before the International Agency for Tennis Integrity (Itia), the Italian explained that he had suffered contamination from a member of his staff, who had applied an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to his hand to treat a small wound.

Itia, in its great leniency, accepted his explanations and officially cleared him at the end of August. The player, winner of the Australian Open at the beginning of January then the US Open a few weeks ago, thought he was out of the woods until the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced last week that he had filed an appeal in this case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In its press release, the world body considers that the conclusion of absence of fault or negligence was not correct with regard to the applicable rules and, consequently: “WADA is requesting a suspension period of one to two years. » for the player, without these results since his positive tests, including his victory at the US Open, being canceled.

Questions about the desire to eradicate doping

Thunderclap in the world of tennis which, despite its claims, is not its first case of doping. Latest to date and in the same year, the case of the Romanian former world number 1 Simona Halep whose suspension was finally reduced from four years to nine months after having tested positive for “roxadustat” – a molecule which stimulates the production of red blood cells — raises many questions about the desire to eradicate doping in this sport.

In an investigation by the British daily Daily Mail published in June 2022, it revealed that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) let players organize their own anti-doping controls and inflated the number of tests carried out. The players were even warned 4 days before their checks.

At all times, tennis has experienced cases of doping without much happening behind it.

The precedent of the Puerto affair

As a reminder, the Puerto affair in 2016 in Spain and the famous doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, did not only concern cycling but also professional football and tennis players.

Was there Rafael Nadal’s name on one of the blood bags seized by the police? Whatever happened at the end of the trial, the Spanish courts decided to destroy the evidence and not reveal the identity of the cheaters.

In this matter concerning Sinner today, if some players and former players are surprised by solidarity that such low doses are being made so big a deal – Brad Gilbert, now a coach: “I am completely baffled by this decision, his dose was 8,000 times smaller than a gram of salt. »– others are stepping up to the plate and demanding a little more transparency.

“Maybe we should stop taking ourselves for idiots? »

Thus the Australian Nick Kyrgios and especially the Frenchman Lucas Pouille who declared: “Maybe we should stop taking ourselves for idiots? When we want to pass ourselves off as an impeccable sport, we do not announce six months later that our world number 1 and winner of the first Grand Slam of the year has tested positive. »

For his part, the Italian explained in a press release: “I have nothing to hide and, as I have done throughout the summer, I will cooperate fully with the appeal process and provide whatever may be necessary to prove my innocence once again.” »

To be continued…