Juan Martin del Potro, the Argentine tennis legend, has expressed his confusion and disappointment over the circumstances surrounding Jannik Sinner’s recent doping suspension. Reflecting on the situation that led to the 23-year-old’s three-month ban, del Potro found the entire ordeal “strange” and unsettling.
On February 15, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that Sinner had been handed a suspension after failing two doping tests in March 2024. This decision came after Sinner tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, during and after the Indian Wells Masters. However, in August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, stating he bore “no fault or negligence.” Their investigation concluded that the substance entered his system when Sinner’s former physiotherapist used a spray containing clostebol to treat a minor cut.
Despite the ITIA’s ruling, WADA wasn’t satisfied and appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They argued that although Sinner wasn’t at fault, he still deserved a suspension. WADA sought a ban of between one and two years. The case was due to be heard in April 2025, but an agreement was reached on February 14, with Sinner accepting a three-month suspension, running from February 9 to May 4.
This suspension means Sinner will miss key events, including the Qatar Open, and Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid. However, he will be eligible to return in time for the Italian Open, just days after his ban expires. Fortunately for Sinner, the timing of the suspension won’t impact his participation in any Grand Slam tournaments, as he last played in January, defending his Australian Open title.
Del Potro, speaking candidly at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, questioned the entire handling of the case. He was baffled by the timeline, pointing out the incongruity between the public announcement of the case before the US Open and the fact that the situation wasn’t fully resolved at that time. “I don’t know all the details, as I’m not on the circuit, but the whole situation seems strange to me,” the 2009 US Open champion remarked.
He also noted that the public’s perception of the situation was skewed by the delay in addressing the issue. “He tested positive twice in Indian Wells, and then, before the US Open, the case became public, but there was no sanction. That seems odd to me,” del Potro added, expressing his frustration that people were aware of the case for months without any action.
Del Potro further expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the situation was handled by all parties involved. “I don’t understand why they announced it before the US Open if the case was supposedly closed,” he said, admitting that he wasn’t sure whether Sinner was innocent or not but emphasizing that the handling of the case left much to be desired.
The former world No. 4 also pointed out the damage done to the reputations of various parties, including the ATP, the anti-doping systems, Sinner’s personal image, and even the fans. “I think everyone involved lost a bit of credibility,” del Potro said, clearly unimpressed with how the situation unfolded. “The ATP, the anti-doping systems, Sinner’s image, the fans – no one really came out of this situation with anything positive.”
As the dust settles, the controversy continues to raise important questions about transparency and fairness in tennis’ anti-doping processes. For now, Sinner can focus on returning to the court later this spring, but the fallout from the case will likely linger for some time.