Kyrgios and Shapovalov's matter-of-fact reaction to Jannik Sinner's clean bill of health after failing a doping test: “Should be gone for …” | Tennis News

Tennis stars Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov have reacted to the release of ATP world number one Jannik Sinner despite him testing positive for the banned substance twice. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Tuesday that Sinner tested positive for a banned substance twice earlier this season, but the agency decided to clear him of the charges.

However, according to the current anti-doping rules, the world number one in tennis will have his results, his prize money and the 400 ranking points he collected in Indian Wells revoked.

“The ITIA today confirms that an independent tribunal convened by Sport Resolutions has found that Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner cannot be held responsible for any fault or negligence for two anti-doping rule violations under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP),” the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

Sinner made a competitive appearance at the Indian Wells Masters on March 10, 2024.

The test found small amounts of a metabolite of clostebol, an anabolic steroid that has always been banned by WADA, in his body, according to the ITIA.

Eight days after the accident in Indian Wells, a second sample was taken and again a low level of the same metabolite was detected.

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios called the whole fiasco ridiculous and said Sinner should be banned for a few years.

“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned,” Kyrgios wrote on X.

“You are tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… You should be out for 2 years. Your performance has been enhanced. Massage cream… Yeah, nice.”

Canadian Shapovalov also took a swipe at Sinner with a social media post.

“I can't imagine what any other player who has been banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now.”

Meanwhile, the tribunal convened by Sport Resolutions accepted Sinner's explanation. The leading tennis star clarified that clostebol entered his body through massages and sports therapy.

Sinner said his physical therapist, Giacomo Naldi, applied an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to his own skin to treat a small wound on his finger and then gave him massages without gloves between March 5 and 13, according to the ITIA.