Patrick McEnroe, Chris McKendry and Rennae Stubbs discuss an independent tribunal's decision to clear Jannik Sinner after he tested positive for anabolic steroids. (2:26)
During the Indian Wells hard-court event in March, Sinner tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological use. It's the same drug for which San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended by MLB.
Sinner tested positive again eight days later in an out-of-competition sample.
He was provisionally suspended because of those test results, but he successfully appealed and was allowed to keep competing on tour. He will, however, lose the $325,000 and 400 points that he had earned at the tournament in Indian Wells.
In its ruling, the ITIA said the low levels of clostebol from the tests on March 10 and March 18 were "a result of contamination from a support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound."
The support team member then passed along the anabolic agent transdermally via "daily massages and sports therapy" to Sinner.
In its statement, the ITIA it "did not oppose the player's appeals to lift the provisional suspension" and that "the violation was not intentional."
An independent panel held a hearing on Aug. 15 and "determined a finding of No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility," according to the ITIA.
ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said "Sinner and his representatives fully cooperated" with her group's "thorough investigation."
The World Anti-Doping Agency and Italy's anti-doping body are both allowed to appeal the decision.
The contributed to this report.
