World number one Jannik Sinner is ready to return to the tennis spotlight—this time not just to win matches, but to reclaim his narrative.
After serving a controversial three-month doping ban that many, including Sinner himself, have called “unfair,” the 23-year-old Italian ace is preparing for his comeback at the Rome Open, just days after his suspension ends on May 4. And with the French Open on the horizon, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
In a candid interview with Sky Sport, Sinner opened up for the first time about the ordeal that’s trailed him since last year—when he twice tested positive for traces of the banned substance clostebol. The source? A contaminated spray used by his physiotherapist.
“We accepted the ban quickly, even though I wasn’t really in agreement,” Sinner said. “We had to choose the least worst option. What I’ve been through is a bit unfair—but it could have been much worse.”
Initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), Sinner faced a renewed threat when WADA appealed the decision, potentially sidelining him for two years. The eventual settlement spared him a lengthy ban, with WADA explicitly stating he “did not intend to cheat”—a rare and powerful acknowledgment in doping cases.
Now, with nearly a year of whispers behind him, Sinner is focused on the future. But he knows the reception at Rome’s Foro Italico may not be smooth.
“I don’t know what might happen. I know what happened, and I know I’m innocent. The people closest to me have no doubts.”
Despite missing months of play, Sinner has held onto his No. 1 ATP ranking, as rivals like Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have failed to capitalize. His last match? A triumphant victory at the Australian Open.
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