Breaking down the facts behind Jannik Sinner’s doping ban and its impact on his career.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner won two Grand Slams and two runner-up trophies at the majors in 2025. The 24-year-old Italian spent over 65 consecutive weeks atop the ATP rankings before being dethroned by Carlos Alcaraz, and is enjoying a dominant season. Despite a heartbreaking loss in the US Open 2025 final, Sinner remains a standout name in the men’s division.
With a year-to-date record of 37-5, that low match count isn’t a reflection of poor form or injury. It stems from a three-month suspension earlier this year following a clobetasol violation. How did it happen, and why was Sinner banned? The full story is detailed below.
In early 2024, Jannik Sinner’s season was rocked by doping allegations after he twice tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid. The controversy stemmed from the use of Trofodermin, a topical cream containing clobetasol, reportedly purchased over the counter by Sinner’s fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara.
The cream was initially meant to treat a minor cut on physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi’s finger. Things spiraled after Naldi, unaware of the steroid content, massaged Sinner without gloves, leading to the unintentional transmission of the banned substance.
While Sinner cooperated fully during the investigation, and the independent tribunal ruled that the contamination was “through no fault or negligence” on his part, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wasn’t entirely satisfied.
They accepted the scientific evidence, which ruled out intentional doping or micro-dosing, but emphasized the principle of strict liability, the idea that an athlete remains responsible for any prohibited substance in their body, regardless of how it got there.
Initially pushing for a one- or two-year suspension, WADA ultimately settled on a three-month ban in February 2025, citing fairness and acknowledging the case was “a million miles away from doping,” WADA General Counsel Ross Wenzel later told BBC Sport. “The scientific feedback that we received was that this could not be a case of intentional doping.”
Despite the leniency in his final punishment, the situation reinforced WADA’s stance on entourage accountability. Sinner responded by cutting ties with both Naldi and Ferrara, replacing them with Ulises Badio and Marco Panichi, former members of Novak Djokovic’s team.
Sinner’s doping ban stirred a wave of debate across the tennis world, with many top players and insiders questioning whether his star status played a role in the relatively light punishment. Regardless of such speculation, both WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have categorically denied any special treatment.
Yet, not everyone in the tennis fraternity was convinced. Novak Djokovic, the undisputed G.O.A.T., voiced concerns, stating, “A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player if you have access to the top lawyers.”
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) echoed these sentiments, condemning what they called “tailored deals, unfair treatment, and inconsistent rulings.” Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka went even further, expressing on social media that he no longer “believe[s] in a clean sport anymore.”
From the legal side, Sinner’s lawyer explained the unique approach that led to the swift resolution. Rather than contesting the presence of clobetasol, the defense focused on explaining how the contamination occurred. As Sinner’s lawyer told BBC Sport, “The fact that WADA approached us, and that the next three months had no Grand Slams, made their offer more compelling.”
British player Liam Broady acknowledged that, despite the controversy, the timing of the ban appeared designed to minimize impact on Sinner’s career. WADA’s general counsel, Ross Wenzel, however, firmly denied any influence of the tennis calendar on the decision.
Also Read: Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz Rivalry- Exploring the Entire Timeline of Sinner vs Alcaraz Matchups
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