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Jannik Sinner's clearance by the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) to play on the ATP tour despite two failed drug tests has shocked the tennis world. The ITIA didn't let out a single word about there being an investigation into the matter until their announcement of Sinner's innocence on Tuesday, August 20.
In light of the news, let's take a look at five players and the drug controversies they were mixed up in.
#1 Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi hung up his racquet in 2006, bringing his two-decade long career to a close. In 2009, the eight-time Grand Slam champion released his autobiography, Open. In the book, Agassi shockingly detailed his addiction to the drug crystal methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, in the late 90's.
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He confessed about lying to the ATP to avoid a ban, stating that he accidentally consumed his assistant's drink that was laced with the substance. Agassi later experienced a slump in form, falling out of the Top 100 in 1997.
The American took a break and committed to getting clean that year. He then turned things around completely, winning multiple Slams and rising to World No. 1.
#2 Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova broke through by winning her first Grand Slam at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, defeating two-time defending champion Serena Williams. The Russian later added four more Grand Slam trophies to her mantle.
However, Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a drug that increases blood flow to the heart, at the 2016 Australian Open. In her defence, Sharapova stated that she had being taking the drug as prescribed by her doctor for almost a decade. The tennis star added that she was unaware that the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) had banned it in January, a little before the Australian Open began in 2016.
“I had been legally taking the medicine for the past 10 years, but on January 1 the rules had changed, and meldonium became a prohibited substance, which I had not known,” she told reporters at a press conference in Los Angeles in 2016.
Maria Sharapova received a two-year ban, that was later reduced to 15 months by the Iternational Tennis Federation, for the failed drug test. The then 32-year-old returned to the WTA tour in 2017 and retired from the game in 2020.
#3 Dan Evans
Former British No. 1 Dan Evans tested positive for cocaine in 2017 at the Barcelona Open, and admitted that he took the drug outside of competition. As a result, he was handed a 12-month ban by WADA and was sanctioned by the LTA as well, not allowing him to practice at any of the tennis courts in the United Kingdom for the first nine months.
Recalling the experience later, Evans was highly critical of himself, saying that he "hated" himself during the ban and was disgusted at his own actions.
"Some days, you still think, 'that was stupid' - but I don't look back and hate myself like I did during the ban," Evans told the My Sporting Mind podcast. "You're disgusted with what you did, but you have to move on at some point. I just feel grateful for when I get out on the court."
Speaking ahead of his comeback in 2018 at a Challenger Event in Glasgow, the Brit called it the "worst thing" he has ever done and lamented the fact that he let many people down.
"It’s the worst thing I’ve ever done. It’s a shocking thing to do. It’s let down many people. Not just that, it’s brought unwanted press to tennis. God knows what some of the greats of the game thought about that when that sort of thing comes into the headlines.”
The 34-year-old hasn't had any drug-related controversies since then, and has mostly stayed out of the limelight.
#4 Simona Halep
Simona Halep tested positive for the banned blood-boosting substance Roxadustat after the 2022 US Open. The substance was found in a urine test and the Romanian was handed a four-year ban at the time.
The two-time Grand Slam champion appealed to the CAS (Court of Artbritation for Sports) claiming that she had unknowingly consumed contaminated supplements. It took two years before the CAS concluded its investigation in January 2024 and reduced Halep's ban to nine months.
Halep made a comeback with a wildcard at this year's Miami Open. She is currently struggling with injuries and has pulled out from the upcoming US Open.
#5 Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner clinched his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open. He followed that up with title-wins at the ATP Rotterdam, the Miami Open and the Halle Open.
Hours after his latest title win at the Cinncinati Masters, the ATP announced that Sinner had tested positive for Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid during the 2024 Indian Wells, but had been cleared to play on tour.
The drug was found to be one billionth of a gram in the 23-year old's urine test. Jannik Sinner has claimed that the drug entered his system through bare-handed massages after the use of a healing spray by his physio Giacomo Naldi.
Sinner has spoken about the incident and expressed his desire to put the whole thing behind him.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner said. “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
The World No. 1 is now gearing up for the 2024 US Open, the qualifiers for which are underway.
