As Jannik Sinner gets set to return to the A.T.P. Tour next week after a three-month doping ban, the tennis world is still gripped by the repercussions of his case, which has cast a spotlight on rival players and raised new questions and worries among them.
The world No. 1 from Italy admitted in February to a suspension after testing positive for the banned anabolic agent clostebol, which had been linked to massages he received from his physiotherapist. The World Anti-Doping Agency bought the explanation, yet the incident has fueled broader concerns about the risks of contamination.
More players are calling for advice now to stop themselves falling into the same trap,” confirmed the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). “We are definitely seeing more players coming forward seeking advise,” a spokesperson for the ITIA said. “We don’t want to catch people out — we want to protect the sport.”
If Sinner has experienced little impact on court – he won both the US Open and Australian Open as the fuss over the matter rumbled on – others like Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Serena Williams have politicised the ban as some kind of far-off help for the devil.
Sinner, however, is still set to play at the Rome Masters next week, where Rafael Nadal has urged attention to be turned away from the off-court commotion. “I trust on Jannik,” Nadal said. “Case closed.”
