World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner has reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, accepting a three-month suspension.
The case originated when WADA challenged the International Tennis Integrity Agency's previous ruling from last year. The ITIA had decided not to suspend Sinner for what they determined was an unintentional contamination.
The tennis star's defence was accepted when he explained that traces of Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, appeared in his March doping test due to a massage from a trainer who had used the substance after cutting his finger.
The 23-year-old Italian, who clinched the Australian Open title in January, will be eligible to compete in the upcoming Grand Slam, with the French Open set to begin on May 25.
"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," Sinner said in a statement.
"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."
Initially, WADA had appealed the ITIA's ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, seeking a minimum one-year ban for Sinner.
His suspension is effective from February 9 to May 4, allowing him to make a potential return at his home tournament, the Italian Open in Rome, starting May 7.
Sinner's lawyer, Jamie Singer of Onside Law, commented: "I am delighted that Jannik can finally put this harrowing experience behind him. WADA has confirmed the facts determined by the Independent Tribunal. It is clear that Jannik had no intent, no knowledge, and gained no competitive advantage. Regrettably, errors made by members of his team led to this situation."
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