In a major setback for Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner, the Laureus Academy has officially revoked his nomination for the World Sportsman of the Year Award. The decision comes after Sinner accepted a three-month doping ban earlier this month.
Sinner, ranked number one in tennis, tested positive for the anabolic agent clostebol. He claimed the substance entered his system through massages and sports therapy administered by a member of his support team. The ban is set to end on May 4.
Sean Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Laureus Academy, stated in a letter to the nomination panel, \"We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and – whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved – feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible. Jannik and his team have been informed.\"
The Laureus World Sports Awards, established in 2000, recognize outstanding individual and team achievements in sports, with nominees selected by global media. This year's nominees are scheduled to be announced on March 3 in Madrid.
Sinner's journey this year has been tumultuous. Despite retaining his Australian Open title in January, he failed two drug tests in March 2024. While he was allowed to continue competing during his appeal, the positive tests surfaced just days before the U.S. Open, leading to significant controversy.
Critics, including players and fans, have accused officials of allowing Sinner to compete despite his positive tests, suggesting he received preferential treatment due to his top-ranking status. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) initially appealed against an independent tribunal's decision that cleared Sinner of wrongdoing, arguing he should serve a ban of one to two years.
However, two weeks ago, Sinner accepted a three-month ban as part of a settlement with WADA, which subsequently withdrew its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Sinner is expected to return to competition before the French Open, marking him as the second high-ranked player to accept a doping ban recently, following women's world number two Iga Swiatek's one-month suspension in November.
