It was supposed to be a celebration of the World No. 1 winning his first ATP title since June. Jannik Sinner, who turned 23 on Aug 16, was going to have a perfect celebration after his latest win at the Cincinnati Open against Frances Tiafoe. But what goes up must come down, right?

Earlier today, reports of a doping controversy around the Italian emerged – Sinner tested positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid and a non-specified substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list, from two samples collected in March at Indian Wells. However, Sinner’s statement reflected it was actually his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray containing the substance to his own skin – not on Sinner – to treat a small wound.

The ATP player was reportedly unaware of this, and has received an anti-doping sanction, with an independent tribunal ruling that Sinner bears “no fault or negligence”. But his ranking points, prize money, and results from the BNP Paribas Open have been stripped nonetheless. Now what’s interesting is, that it wasn’t Naldi’s first rodeo with banned substances.

The Italian physio joined Sinner’s team in 2023 after treating him for an ankle injury suffered in Sofia against Holger Rune in 2022. The 33-year-old Naldi, before that, had been working with the Italian basketball team, Virtus Bologna, for six years, starting in 2017. “I’ve been working with Jannik since February. I’m from Bologna. I met Jannik in October of last year. They came to my clinic because he injured his ankle. We worked together for one week and then at the end of the year, they asked me if I wanted to join the team because their physio changed jobs. I decided to join them and I’m very happy to be with them,” Naldi told ATP.com.

Just a few years before, in July 2021, the Virtus Bologna made headlines for parting ways with American Vince Hunter despite having extended a contract with him just a few weeks ago. The reason? Hunter tested positive for ‘carboxy THC,’ the second metabolite of THC. A test had been taken after Game 4 of the Serie A final series between Virtus Bologna and AX Armani Exchange Milan on June 11, where Virtus became the champion after 20 years. By July 16, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) had suspended Hunter for three months.

Naldi was the active physiotherapist for the team at the time, but no reports directly linked the two together. However, what’s interesting is that the cases of Italian athletes and Clostebol seem to be on the rise. Multiple reports from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and NADO suggest that Italian players rank among the top to be negatively affected by Clostebol.

In Sinner’s case, some reports suggest it was Umberto Ferrara, Sinner’s fitness coach, who first purchased the item containing the prohibited substance. But in the team’s defense, it was for Naldi’s cuts, which later complicated the situation, as he used the spray and then treated Sinner without gloves, thereby inadvertently causing the substance to transfer into his skin.

While Sinner has escaped a serious ban from the ITIA, some believe he should not be allowed to go scot-free.

Nick Kyrgios, Liam Broady, Denis Shapovalov among those calling for stricter action against Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner just won $1.05 million for winning the Cincinnati Open but forfeited the $325,000 in prize money for reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells. A loss of 400 ranking points will also be in effect, but the Italian will remain as the World No. 1. Nevertheless, many have come forward to criticize this ruling.

Nick Kyrgios wrote on X, “Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice 🙄” The Canadian player Denis Shapovalov also called out the unfairness, saying “Different rules for different players.”

The Brit Liam Broady was another one who was not overly amused with the decision, “Whether Sinner was doping or not. This is not right. Plenty of players go through the same thing and have to wait months or YEARS for their innocence to be declared. Not a good look.”

While the Simona Halep doping controversy was the latest the tennis community witnessed before this, Sinner has stirred up another debate on punishment – who decides what is appropriate for whom?