Jannik Sinner: Comeback after doping ban! Is he ready for Rome?

Jannik Sinner: Comeback after doping ban! Is he ready for Rome?

Jannik Sinner is about to return to the tennis tour, which was interrupted by a three-month doping ban. Sinner has been suspended since winning the Australian Open title in 2025 after testing positive for the banned drug clostebol during the Indian Wells tournament in March 2024. The ban began on February 9, 2025 and ends on May 4, 2025. Nevertheless, Sinner remains number 1 in the tennis world rankings and has not been replaced by any of his pursuers crown reported.

The tennis agency ITIA initially acquitted Sinner because he was able to prove that the substance accidentally entered his body via a contaminated spray from a physiotherapist. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed this decision, resulting in the three-month ban. Sinner stated that during this time he spent a lot of time with his family and friends and got to know himself better. Training during the lockdown was also approved by the ITIA, and Sinner has been allowed to train again since April 13th.

Return to the tour

Sinner will return to the tour on May 7th at the ATP 1000 tournament in Rome, the Italian Open. He has prepared intensively for the clay court season, but must expect challenges. In an interview he admitted that his first games after returning could be difficult. “Returning to the tour will not be easy,” said Sinner. His first matches could be a big hurdle as he has to readjust to competition, reports Sportskeeda.

The current condition of other top players such as Carlos Alcaraz will also be taken into account when correcting rounds. Alcaraz, Sinner's biggest rival, is facing injury problems with his abductor muscle, left hamstring and groin and is uncertain whether he will be able to compete in Rome. If Alcaraz doesn't play, Alexander Zverev could represent serious competition for Sinner.

Context to the doping issue

The incidents surrounding Sinner are part of a complex framework that is shaped by the strict anti-doping regulations in tennis. The ITIA is responsible for the management and investigation of doping violations. It operates according to specific codes and has the right to take responsibility in certain cases such as proven violations. These regulations are crucial to the integrity of sport and provide a framework for dealing with disciplinary breaches.

Doping policy in tennis depends heavily on cooperation between organizations. The ITIA and WADA play central roles in the investigations and decisions in such cases. This includes not only testing procedures, but also the review and management of possible violations, as set out in the ITIA documentation framework ITIA.