The No. 1-ranked tennis player in the world has tested positive for an anabolic steroid.
Italian Jannik Sinner — the second-best favorite to win the US Open, which starts later this month — tested positive twice for clostebol, a steroid that has resulted in punitive actions for other athletes such as Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., former Marlins shortstop Dee Gordon and former Phillies infielder Freddy Galvis.
The positive tests occurred in March during the Indian Wells Tournament. Sinner was suspended, but was permitted to continue playing while awaiting an appeal.
In the end, the International Tennis Integrity Agency agreed with Sinner's assessment that a support team member passed the anabolic steroid to him through his skin from "daily massages and sports therapy." The support team member had been applying an over-the-counter spray that contained clostebol on himself to treat a small wound, the ITIA said in its findings.
The ITIA said in its ruling that Sinner would not face a suspension due to his claims, which were backed by medical professionals. He's required to forfeit his prize money winnings at Indian Wells ($325,000) and the points accumulated from that tournament, however.
Sinner's odds to win the US Open remain unchanged since the announcement on Tuesday morning. At FanDuel, he's still +260, just behind Carlos Alcaraz at +160 and reigning champion Novak Djokovic at +270.
Jannik Sinner US Open Odds
| Player | FanDuel | DraftKings |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) | +160 | +150 |
| Jannik Sinner (Italy) | +260 | +200 |
| Novak Djokovic (Serbia) | +300 | +270 |
| Alexander Zverev (Germany) | +1400 | +1200 |
| Daniil Medvedev | +1400 | +1400 |
| Holger Rune (Denmark) | +3800 | +4000 |
| Taylor Fritz (United States) | +4800 | +4000 |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) | +4800 | +4000 |
| Casper Ruud (Norway) | +4800 | +5000 |
| Matteo Berrettini (Italy) | +5000 | +5000 |
| Francis Tiafoe (United States) | +5000 | +5000 |
| Ben Shelton (United States) | +5500 | +5000 |
| Andrey Rublev | +5500 | +5000 |
Odds are according to FanDuel and DraftKings as of Tuesday afternoon, with odds on competitors up to +5500.
For their offenses, the aforementioned MLB players received lengthy suspensions. Tatis Jr. and Galvis were suspended 50 games. Gordon was slapped with an 80-game ban.
And last year, fellow Italian tennis player Stefano Battaglino was suspended for four years after testing positive for clostebol, as well. A key difference in that case was the massage therapist who Battaglino alleged administered the banned substance did not testify on Battaglino's behalf. Battaglino was thus unable to prove he did not intentionally administer the drug.
