Being the World No. 1, one would believe that the player must have a good credit score with the community. However, that hasn’t been the case with Jannik Sinner. The Italian superstar has been in the firing range of fans ever since his positive doping test last year. But now, their frustrations have boiled to the summit. The reason?

Sinner accepted a three-month ban from the sport for doping after testing positive for the banned anabolic agent Clostebol, which he claimed entered his system via members of his support team through massages and sports therapy during the Indian Wells Masters in March 2024. An in-competition test at the event, conducted by the International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA), found an adverse analytical finding’ (AAF) for the banned substance, with traces of the same anabolic detected in his system in a second out-of-competition test on March 18.

Fast forward to August, the independent tribunal cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing after accepting his plea that the anabolic agent unintentionally entered his system. Moreover, World No. 1 also cleared house by firing two members of his support staff, a physiotherapist and fitness coach, responsible for his two positive steroid tests. However, those efforts hardly dented the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) plans to appeal against the tribunal’s “no guilt or negligence” verdict and appealed to the Court of Arbitration (CAS) for a decision reversal, seeking a 1-2 year ban on Sinner.

The case was set to be heard in April this season. However, in a surprise move, it was recently revealed that the 23-year-old came to a settlement with WADA. He accepted a three-month ban from the professional circuit and, as a result, WADA formally withdrew its appeal to CAS. “Mr Sinner will serve his period of ineligibility from 9 February 2025 to 11:59 pm on 4 May 2025. Mr Sinner may return to official training activity from 13 April 2025,” WADA said in a statement.

Later, the 23-year-old also issued a statement clarifying his stance on the decision and outlined that he could finally bid farewell to his doping saga and move on. “This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision, maybe only at the end of the year. I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis, I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a 3-month sanction.”

Though this settlement plays in Sinner’s favor, seeing as he otherwise risked a long-term ban, the outcome of his doping controversy sparked an intense backlash from fans.

Tennis fans slam Jannik Sinner over the “most scandalous decision” on his doping settlement

Jannik Sinner’s doping saga was among the two high-profile controversies that happened over the last year. WTA superstar and Polish No. 1 Iga Swiatek also tested positive for a prohibited substance from an out-of-competition sample last season but, it was only in the case of the Italian player where fans have seen the most irregularities. The terms surrounding his recent settlement with WADA have now acted as a catalyst.

Following the revelation of the update, one user highlighted that “Sinner accepts a ban, so all those saying he wasn’t guilty were totally wrong. The fact that he’s only agreed to it during the period where there is no slams is the most scandalous decision ever made in Tennis. This will live with Jannik Sinner for the rest of his career.”

More users resonated with similar thoughts, with one saying: “Mmmm how convenient for him not to be missing any Grand Slam events then….all to suit Sinner not a Saint!” and another iterating the prospects of a hilarious turnaround to his doping ban – “Going to be funny if he comes back after a nice break and runs through the field at RG and SW19.” And netizens have a point.

Sinner won’t have to skip out on any Grand Slams, as the duration of his three-month ban doesn’t schedule any Slam events. This means that the 23-year-old will be eligible to return by the time the season’s clay court major Roland Garros commences in May. However, he’s set to lose 1,600 ranking points: 1,000 from his Miami Open win last year, 400 from making the semifinals in Monte Carlo, and 200 from his quarterfinal appearance in Madrid.

As for conceding prize money, the World No. 1 gave up earnings from his Indian Wells campaign following his positive dope test last year. Sinner’s unbreakable form could see his bid for a dream French Open and Wimbledon title coming to life this season, which would be a nightmare for fans and players criticizing the outcome of his doping controversy.

Moreover, notable personalities in the sport have also questioned the inconsistencies in the decision-making of Sinner’s doping case. While players like Novak Djokovic previously admitted that the procedure felt ‘fishy’ to him, Australian star Nick Kyrgios came out as the loudest critic against the Italian. Sinner’s 3-month ban also prompted him to take to X and imply:

“So WADA come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.”

Another fan questioned whether “This implies some sort of guilt. So…does he give back any titles?” and one user took a swipe at the Italian star by claiming that “his biggest rival wasn’t Djokovic or Alcaraz… it was drug testing.” For those unaware, the ATP ranking leader has turned out to be Serbian Djokovic’s and his arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz‘s biggest headache on the tour. Both players face immense on-court resistance against the Italian superstar and difficulties dispatching him from the World No. 1 spot he assumed last year.

Fans disappointment aside, it’s hard to deny Sinner’s effectiveness on the court. He scripted a 73-6 win-loss record in 2024 and became the fifth man this century to win 70 matches or more in a season. Moreover, he has yet to lose a match this year and even successfully defended his Australian Open crown in January. Overall, a fierce competitor, always donning a compelling performance, might do good for tennis because, like it or not, Sinner is not going away anytime soon.