Sinner Gets 3-Month Ban

World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner, 23, has agreed to a three-month suspension for a doping violation. This comes after he tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic agent. Sinner maintains he didn't intentionally take the substance, claiming it came from his support team during massages and therapy.

Initially, Sinner was cleared by an independent tribunal. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed this decision. To avoid a lengthy legal battle and potential two-year ban, Sinner and WADA reached a settlement.

WADA acknowledged that Sinner didn't intend to cheat and received no performance boost from the substance. They also recognized that it was due to the negligence of his team. However, WADA's rules state that athletes are responsible for their team's actions.

Sinner's ban started on February 9th and will end on May 4th, allowing him to return to training on April 13th. This means he'll be back just in time for the French Open, which begins on May 25th. He will, however, miss several Masters tournaments, including Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte Carlo, and Madrid.

"This has been hanging over me for nearly a year," Sinner stated. "I've always accepted responsibility for my team and understand WADA's rules are important for the sport." He added that he accepted WADA's offer to resolve the situation with a three-month ban.

This isn't the only recent doping case in tennis. World number two Iga Swiatek also received a one-month suspension last November for a different banned substance.

Despite the ban, Sinner has received support. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation president, Angelo Binaghi, called the situation a "shameful injustice" but expressed relief that the ordeal is over, welcoming Sinner back for the Italian Open in Rome.

However, Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios criticized the outcome, calling it a "sad day for tennis" and questioning the fairness of the situation. He pointed out that Sinner gets to keep his titles and prize money.

Sinner's lawyer, Jamie Singer, reiterated that Sinner had no intention, knowledge, or advantage from the substance, and that his team's errors caused the situation.