Top five tennis players who failed doping test ft. Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner tested positive for usage of the prohibited drug clostebol.

Doping scandals have tainted the tennis world, raising serious ethical concerns within the sport. Despite the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) ongoing efforts to combat drug use, several high-profile players have been caught up in controversies involving illegal substances.

These incidents not only affect the careers of the athletes involved but also tarnish the overall reputation of tennis.

Here, we examine five notable doping cases that have intensified the debate over anti-doping policies in the sport

5. Simona Halep (2022)

Simona Halep, the former world number one, tested positive during the US Open in October 2022 for Roxadustat, a prohibited drug. In May 2023, she was charged with a second doping offense based on “irregularities” in her biological passport.

4. Martina Hingis (2007)

In 2007, Swiss great Martina Hingis tested positive for a cocaine metabolite and was suspended for two years. She maintained her innocence, claiming that she had never used cocaine, and a private drug test came up negative. Hingis resigned from tennis shortly afterward and did not formally appeal the decision.

3. Andre Agassi (1997)

Andre Agassi, one of the best players in history, tested positive for methamphetamine in 1997. He originally lied about the source, stating his drink had been tainted, but later admitted in his memoirs to using the substance and lying about it. Agassi received a three-month suspension but was permitted to resume his career.

Also Read: Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov lambast decision to not ban Jannik Sinner despite failed dope test

2. Maria Sharapova (2016):

Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, failed a drug test during the 2016 Australian Open. The drug was meldonium, a heart-related medicine that can help increase blood circulation and oxygen flow. Sharapova said she had been using the substance for more than a decade before it was put to the prohibited list without her awareness. She received a two-year suspension, which was reduced to 15 months on appeal.

1. Jannik Sinner (2024)

Jannik Sinner, the world’s top tennis player, was cleared of any wrongdoing despite testing positive for the prohibited drug clostebol twice in March. The first test was taken during the Indian Wells tournament, where he reached the semi-finals, and a follow-up test eight days later produced positive results.

Sinner’s breach was inadvertent, according to an impartial tribunal, and was caused by incidental contamination by his physiotherapist, who used a chemical-containing topical therapy to treat a hand cut.

Sinner will not be suspended, but he will forfeit the $325,000 prize money and 400 ranking points from the Indian Wells event. Despite the issue, he recently won the Cincinnati Open and is preparing for the upcoming US Open, reaffirming his dedication to anti-doping standards.

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