Jannik Sinner Cleared of Wrongdoing in Drug Test Scandal

World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner has been exonerated from any fault or negligence over failing two drug tests. An independent tribunal concluded that the contamination stemmed from a support team member who unknowingly transferred a banned substance while treating a personal injury.

World men's number one Jannik Sinner has been cleared of fault or negligence after failing two drug tests in March, the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) said on Tuesday.

An independent tribunal accepted Sinner's explanation that the contamination of the banned substance clostebol happened when a member of his support team applied an over-the-counter spray for a personal wound earlier this year, the ITIA stated.

"That support team member applied the spray between 5 and 13 March, during which time they also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in unknowing transdermal contamination," the ITIA explained. The ruling is subject to appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

(With inputs from agencies.)