Jannik Sinner got stripped of the prize money and ranking points he earned at Indian Wells deu to
Sinner’s coach has defended the world number one, suggesting that the investigation into his failed anti-doping tests contributed to his absence from the Olympic Games. It was revealed that Sinner failed two anti-doping tests in March, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared him of any fault or negligence.
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance clostebol, an anabolic agent that can promote muscle growth, entered his system accidentally through a product used by one of his team members to treat a minor wound.
Sinner was notified of his doping violation in April. Although he won tournaments in Halle and Cincinnati, he withdrew from the Paris Games after a bout of tonsillitis. His coach, Darren Cahill, believes that the investigation had begun to take a toll on the 23-year-old.
Cahill told ESPN: “If you’re not a Jannik fan, you might not notice much difference in his recent performances because he’s still been playing well. But if you are a Jannik fan, you’d have seen a significant change in his body language, physicality on the court, and his enthusiasm for playing – he’s struggled, and it’s taken a physical and mental toll on him.
“He got tonsillitis, which is why he missed the Olympics.
“I want to emphasize that he’s one of the most professional young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. He would never intentionally do anything wrong, and this situation is incredibly unfortunate.”
Sinner first tested positive on March 10 while competing in Indian Wells and was flagged again in an out-of-competition test eight days later. Both samples contained trace amounts of clostebol, but Sinner continued to compete on the ATP Tour after successfully challenging a provisional suspension.
Scientific experts consulted by the ITIA found Sinner’s explanation credible – his physiotherapist had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his skin between March 5 and 13.
Nick Kyrgios called it “ridiculous” that Sinner avoided a ban, while other players have voiced concerns on social media about double standards in similar cases.
As a result, Sinner has lost the prize money and ranking points he gained at Indian Wells, where he reached the semi-finals before losing in three sets to Carlos Alcaraz.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sinner said, “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping program, and my team remains diligent in ensuring our compliance.”
