Sinner cleared after testing positive for banned drug

 World number one, Jannik Sinner, has been cleared of any wrongdo­ing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.

The Italian tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clos­tebol, a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass, during Indian Wells.

A further sample taken eight days later also tested positive for low levels of the same metabolite.

A provisional suspension was automatically applied but, as Sinner challenged it successfully, he was able to keep playing.

The International Tennis Integ­rity Agency (ITIA) carried out an investigation which found Sinner was inadvertently contaminated with the substance by his physio­therapist.

The physiotherapist had been applying an over-the-counter spray available in Italy to a cut on his own hand.

He had then carried out treatments on Sinner, resulting in inadvertent contamination.

The ITIA accepted the explana­tion and that the violation was not intentional.

Sinner was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal last week.

He will, however, lose the ranking points from Indian Wells, where he was beaten in the semi-finals by eventual champi­on, Carlos Alcaraz.

Clostebol is often found in products to treat swelling and irritation. It is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances.

Australian Open champion, Sinner, will be the top seed at the US Open, which begins on Monday. —BBC

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