Suspended Tennis Star Finds a Way Back to the Court
After Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner accepted a settlement that will sideline him until May 4 due to twice testing positive for the banned substance Clostebol, tennis fans are now speculating about which tournament will mark his return to competition.
Sinner avoided a harsher punishment by reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), reducing his suspension to three months instead of facing a potential two-year ban following his positive tests in 2024.
In March last year, Sinner tested positive for Clostebol twice but was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and allowed to continue playing.
However, after ITIA requested a review, an independent tribunal ruled in August 2024 that the Italian bore “no fault or negligence” in the matter.
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing Clostebol to treat a wound on his hand before administering massage therapy. However, WADA appealed the ruling, leading to the current settlement, which allowed Sinner to avoid a longer suspension.
Sinner is preparing for his ATP Tour return in May by training at private tennis clubs in Monte Carlo (Monaco) and Marbella (Spain). Since he has been based in Monaco since 2020, he will not need to travel extensively to maintain his training routine. His comeback is expected at the Rome Masters 1000, his first tournament back while still holding the world No. 1 ranking.
His suspension will not affect any Grand Slam events, ensuring he won’t lose enough ranking points to be dethroned. Sinner is set to forfeit a maximum of 1,600 points, meaning neither Germany’s Alexander Zverev nor Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz will be able to surpass him in the ATP rankings during this period.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sinner will train at the Monte Carlo Country Club, which will host the Monte Carlo Masters from April 5 to 13. However, during that tournament, he will relocate to Marbella for training.
The recently crowned Australian Open champion, who holds three Grand Slam titles, will not participate in any tournaments between February 9 and May 4. This means he will miss the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami Masters), as well as the Monte Carlo and Madrid Masters. His return will come on home soil in Rome, before playing two more clay-court tournaments as part of his final preparations for the French Open at Roland Garros.
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