CNN
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Jannik Sinner has agreed to a three-month suspension from tennis in order to resolve a protracted case after he tested positive for a prohibited substance on two occasions. This decision was announced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Saturday.

The world’s No. 1 player will face the ban from February 9 to May 4, following his detection of the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol during two samples taken in March 2024. Fortunately, this timeline allows him to compete in the upcoming French Open, another major tournament on the calendar.

Sinner previously escaped punishment from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which stated in August that he was not at fault for the positive results. Two samples taken just eight days apart at Indian Wells showed trace amounts of Clostebol.

In August, Sinner addressed the situation through a statement on social media, clarifying that the positive tests resulted from “unintentional contamination of Clostebol” due to treatment from his physiotherapist. The 23-year-old explained that his therapist applied an over-the-counter spray to treat a minor injury, not directly on Sinner.

Following the independent tribunal’s verdict, WADA filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

After reaching an agreement with Sinner, WADA announced the withdrawal of its appeal to CAS.

WADA’s statement confirmed that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat and that his exposure to Clostebol was without his knowledge and did not enhance his performance, attributing it to the negligence of his team members.

Nonetheless, according to the Code and CAS precedents, athletes are held accountable for their team’s negligence. Given the unique circumstances of this case, a three-month suspension was deemed appropriate.

After the ruling, the three-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged his responsibility for his team’s actions.

“This situation has been looming over me for nearly a year, and I realized that the process could take many more months,” Sinner explained in a statement shared with CNN by his representatives.

“I fully comprehend my team’s role in this, and I respect that WADA’s stringent guidelines are vital for protecting the sport that I cherish. Thus, I’ve accepted WADA’s proposal to resolve this issue with a three-month penalty.”

When CNN reached out for comment on Saturday, the ITIA asserted that WADA’s result aligns with their initial findings that Sinner’s breach was unintentional.

“The three-month suspension was only possible through mutual agreement between WADA and the athlete,” the ITIA added.

Sinner’s attorney, Jamie Singer, expressed satisfaction in a statement to CNN, stating they were “thrilled that Jannik can finally move past this distressing ordeal.”

“WADA has confirmed the facts established by the Independent Tribunal,” Singer emphasized. “It is evident that Jannik lacked intent, knowledge, and did not gain any competitive advantage; unfortunately, mistakes made by his team resulted in this predicament.”