In a press conference held on Friday, men's tennis world No. 1 player, Jannik Sinner, addressed questions regarding his recent positive drug tests and subsequent clearance by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The Italian star, who is set to compete as the top seed at the upcoming US Open, expressed his assurance that he had not intentionally violated any anti-doping rules.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that Sinner's two positive tests for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March were deemed to be a result of inadvertent contamination. The samples, collected on March 10 and eight days later during the Indian Wells tournament, showed low levels of the prohibited substance. The International Tennis Integrity Agency determined that Sinner was not at fault nor negligent.

Despite the impact this incident could have on his reputation, Sinner maintained his innocence, stating, "Whoever knows me very well knows that I haven't done, and I would never do something that goes against the rules." The 23-year-old emphasized his commitment to abiding by anti-doping regulations and expressed his disappointment with the situation occurring ahead of a grand slam event like the US Open.

Sinner attributed the positive tests to inadvertent contamination from treatment conducted by his physiotherapist. According to the player, the physiotherapist had been applying an over-the-counter spray to their own skin, not to Sinner himself, to treat a small wound. Sinner made it clear that he had since ended his professional relationship with both his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, and fitness coach Umberto Ferrara in light of the incident.

Addressing the split, Sinner said, "Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them. The only thing I need right now is some clean air." The player expressed his desire to focus on the upcoming tournament, casting aside the uncertainties surrounding his reputation and the impact this incident may have on his career.

Fellow ATP player, Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Sinner in the final of the Cincinnati Open, commented on the situation, stating, "The government bodies made a decision. They went and did that, and he is cleared to play." Tiafoe extended his best wishes to Sinner for the US Open while focusing on his own performance at the upcoming tournament.

With the International Tennis Integrity Agency's judgment in his favor, Jannik Sinner can now fully concentrate on his quest for success at the US Open. As the number one seed, he is poised to face American player Mackenzie McDonald in the first round next week. The 2024 Australian Open champion aims to put this tumultuous chapter behind him and focus on achieving greatness on the court.