Jannik Sinner: My treatment was not ‘different’ over failed anti-doping tests

World number one Jannik Sinner insists he did not get preferential treatment after avoiding a ban for two failed anti-doping tests and maintains he is “clean”.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Sinner tested positive for a banned substance twice in March but was absolved of fault or negligence by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that clostebol, an anabolic agent that can aid muscle growth, had accidentally entered his system via a product one of his team had used to treat a small wound.

The decision has been met with criticism in the tennis world, with some players surprised at the speed at which the case was heard.

But Sinner says the quick timeframe was because he could explain the origin of the substance found in his body.

“Every player who gets tested positive has to go through the same process,” he said. “There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment, they are all the same process.

“I know sometimes the frustration of other players obviously.

“But maybe because they got suspended they didn’t know exactly where it comes from, also what substance, but the main reason is where it comes from and how it entered in his own system.

pic.twitter.com/8UhRd8qik9

— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) August 20, 2024

“We knew it straight away and we were aware of what happened. We went straight away and I was suspended for two, three days. I couldn’t practice and everything.

“But they accepted it very, very fast and that’s why (I carried on playing).”

Sinner admits the situation has been a dark cloud hanging over him, even though he won the Cincinnati Open last week.

“I always believe that I kept playing tennis because in my mind I knew that I haven’t done anything wrong,”