The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Jannik Sinner has been cleared after testing positive for a banned substance, so just what is clostebol?
It has been a challenging few months for the ATP world No1 after Sinner first tested positive for clostebol at Indian Wells in March. The Italian tested positive, again, from a second test arranged out of competition eight days after Sinner lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
Sinner was stripped of his prize money and points for the prestigious tournament at Indian Wells following the positive tests for a banned substance. But he will not serve a ban as the anti-doping body of tennis has stated an independent tribunal ruled Sinner was not at fault.
The independent tribunal was convened by Sport Resolutions as Sinner appealed both of his positive tests. He has now successfully argued that the substance clostebol was transferred accidentally by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and Sinner was fully unaware of its usage.
Sinner’s fitness trainer bought an over-the-counter spray to treat a cut on a finger, but they then transferred the banned substance whilst providing the Italian with massages. The ITIA confirms the independent tribunal agreed that Sinner was not at fault for the two breaches.
The ruling still sees Sinner lose the $325,000 (£250k) and 400 ATP ranking points that were docked for testing positive for a banned substance twice at Indian Wells. Questions remain over what exactly is clostebol, as well, after Sinner was cleared for its accidental transferal.
Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for the banned anabolic agent clostebol
Sinner twice tested positive at Indian Wells for clostebol, which is an anabolic agent which is permanently banned in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List. Clostebol is in Section S1 of the WADA Prohibited List and automatically merits a provisional suspension.
But the Italian escaped any suspension after Sinner appealed the positive tests for a banned substance. He will also not serve a suspension due to the ITIA’s independent tribunal’s ruling that the ATP world No1 beared no fault or negligence for Sinner returning two positive tests.
Clostebol permanently features on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List as it is a derivative of testosterone. Uses of clostebol include treatment for muscle wasting diseases and increasing athletes’ physical performances, as well as sorts of anemia and osteoporosis.
The performance-increasing effects of clostebol are strongest when it is used as a gel but it is also available as a cream. As with the Sinner case, the over-the-counter spray commonly found in Italy that his trainer bought to treat a cut on a finger contained traces of clostebol.
Experts confirm Giacomo Naldi accidentally transferred clostebol to Jannik Sinner
The independent tribunal convened by Sport Resolutions heard from three scientific experts before ruling that Sinner was inadvertently contaminated with clostebol from the spray that his physiotherapist, Naldi, had used before giving the Italian massages whilst at Indian Wells.
The director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Professor Jean-Francois Naud, plus the scientific vice-director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Rome, Dr Xavier de la Torre and Professor David Cowan were the experts who dissected Sinner’s clostebol case.
Professor Naud agreed that Sinner’s explanation of his positive tests for a banned substance came from an accidental transferal of clostebol was ‘really high’. Dr De la Torre also specified that Sinner’s clostebol contamination was ‘provoked by the activities of the physiotherapist’.
The ITIA report also included quotes from Professor Naud in point 63, noting: “The roughly estimated concentration of 100 pg/mL is a small concentration and could be obtained by cross-contamination as published in the scientific literature.”
Naud added: “It is possible that the second AAF result comes from the same administration [or] contamination as the first AAF reported.”
Additionally, the former head of the WADA-accredited Laboratory at King’s College, London Professor Cowan declared that the levels of Sinner’s traces of clostebol made any potential performance-enhancing effects from the contamination unlikely even if it were intentional.
Cowan noted: “Even if the administration had been intentional, the minute amounts likely to have been administered would not have had any relevant doping or performance-enhancing effect upon the player.”
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