The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially ruled that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” for two failed doping tests last year. However, WADA sought to appeal the decision, arguing that the Italian had some degree of responsibility.
On Saturday, WADA confirmed that Sinner had agreed to a three-month suspension, effective from February 9 to May 4. Under the terms of his ban, the world No. 1 is prohibited from competing and can only resume “official training activity” from April 13.
Sinner had been scheduled to play at this week’s Qatar Open as the top seed, but he withdrew following the announcement of his suspension. However, he had already traveled to Doha and begun training ahead of the tournament. On February 13, footage surfaced online showing Sinner practicing on court, sparking debate among fans about whether he had violated the ban by hitting at an official facility.
“If he was banned on Feb 9, how is he training on Feb 13?” one fan questioned on social media. Another added, “I thought he was banned from pro tournaments from 9th Feb?”
Sinner’s suspension has already stirred controversy, with some players and analysts skeptical about the agreement he reached with WADA.
The 22-year-old twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol last year but successfully argued that it had entered his system unintentionally through a spray used by his former physio. An independent tribunal ruled that he bore no fault, allowing him to avoid a ban, though he was stripped of prize money and ranking points from Indian Wells, where he provided the positive samples.
WADA appealed the decision, arguing that Sinner’s entourage had been negligent and that he held some responsibility. A hearing was scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April, but WADA instead opted for a case resolution agreement, stating it was “the most fair and appropriate outcome.”
The agency acknowledged that Sinner had not intended to cheat, that the exposure had no performance-enhancing benefits, and that it resulted from his team’s negligence rather than his own. WADA concluded that a three-month suspension was a suitable penalty.
However, the timing of the ban—allowing Sinner to return just in time for the Masters 1000 event in Rome and the French Open—has raised eyebrows.
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman remarked that the resolution seemed “a bit too convenient” and suggested it wouldn’t “sit well with the player cohort and the fans of the sport.” Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka was even more direct, tweeting: “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore …”
Not everyone shares that skepticism. Retired Spanish star Feliciano Lopez pushed back, responding to Wawrinka: “I do, Stan. It’s very clear he hasn’t done anything to enhance his performance, that’s proven. He’s taking full responsibility for others’ mistakes and serving a three-month suspension as a result. Would a longer suspension have made the sport cleaner? I don’t think so.”
