Jannik Sinner tested positive twice with the same illegal substance, but the Italian was left to play further, with the ITIA handling his case behind closed doors. Although it happened in March, this information only came to light this week. One of the “collateral victims” of this scandal is none other than Novak Djokovic.
Jannik Sinner’s doping case has captured the attention of the tennis world over the past 48 hours. The Italian had positive results in clostebol (a steroid used to improve sports performance) in two anti-doping tests he underwent in March during the Masters tour at Indian Wells, but was declared not guilty after demonstrating that the banned substance had accidentally reached his body.
The decision to clear Jannik Sinner of wrongdoing following two failed drug tests has caused a stir in the tennis world. pic.twitter.com/s3PiqAHe19
— Eurosport (@eurosport) August 21, 2024
All the while, the ITIA has not made any public information, the official announcement being made only this week, at the beginning. If other tennis players faced huge suspensions, Sinner was in this position only for five days, which provoked the anger of his fellow gulls, but also of the fans. The Cahill student was only cancelled out with the cash prize and points (400) won at the Indian Wells tournament.
Even now, two days after the scandal broke, there are still many uncertainties surrounding Jannik Sinner’s case and the potential consequences he could have, but what is clear is that it will lose 400 points in the ATP rankings. Many believe that the drop should be retroactive. If this were done, Novak Djokovic would have added another week as world number 1, reaching a total of 429 weeks spent in 1st place ATP.
So Djokovic is denied a week at No.1 because Jannik Sinner's 400 points from Indian Wells are being removed only after the ruling and are not struck from the record altogether. Make it make sense ATP. https://t.co/JDtKg0lLbW
— Tennis Weekly Podcast (@tennisweeklypod) August 21, 2024
However, the ATP decided not to do so. The Professional Tennis Players Association has decided that Sinner’s 400 ranking points at Indian Wells that have been withdrawn will not be retroactively cancelled. Therefore, last week will be considered Jannik Sinner’s 10th in 1st place, not Novak Djokovic’s 429th. Journalist Ben Rothenberg, one of the Serbian’s fiercest critics, said: “I can’t say that I think it’s right.”
Update—I got an answer from ATP:
Sinner’s 400 ranking points from Indian Wells that were invalidated will *NOT* be retroactively subtracted.
Last week will therefore still be counted as Jannik Sinner’s 10th at #1, not Novak Djokovic’s 429th.
Can’t say I think that’s right. https://t.co/euVGqlW0GE pic.twitter.com/D2MYF6dYzs
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 21, 2024
