Jannik Sinner’s rise to world number one has been incredible. His story of how he made it there, and the rivalry between him and Carlos Alcaraz, which continues to grow. But this article isn’t about his rise, or about his grandslam victories. It’s about the thought that sometimes pops up in the back of your mind whenever he wins a slam.
Let me say up front, to be transparent, I’m a fan. I love Sinner’s game. He’s composed, sharp, and incredibly fun to watch. This isn’t about throwing shade or being a ‘hater’. But I think it’s fair to ask whether that kind of controversy, even when resolved, ever truly disappears from a player’s story.
The case itself didn’t lead anywhere damaging. The failed test was chalked up to possible contamination, maybe a mistake by someone on his team. There was no pattern, no cover-up, and no evidence of intent. Still, the fact that it happened, even briefly, means it lingers, even if quietly, in the background.
The doping controversy: What actually happened with Jannik Sinner?
In March 2024, during and after Indian Wells, Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid. It was a shocker, given his clean reputation and cool-headed persona on and off the court. His team quickly pointed to accidental contamination.
According to them, a physiotherapist had used a topical spray containing clostebol and massaged Sinner without wearing gloves. The result? Traces of the substance made it into his system.
An independent review of the case cleared him of fault or negligence. It looked like a weird, unlucky incident- nothing more. But the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wasn’t satisfied and appealed the decision. Rather than drag things out in court, Sinner agreed to a three-month suspension (Feb–May 2025). He gave up his Indian Wells prize money and ranking points, but held on to the rest of his titles.
To make a long story short, there were very mixed player and pundit reactions to not only the test but the timetable of the suspension. Since then, he’s returned strong and clean. But for some fans, the memory of the incident hasn’t fully faded.
Will it affect Jannik Sinner's legacy?
So, will this affect his legacy? Probably not- if nothing like this ever happens again. Sports fans and history seem to have a short memory when players keep winning and playing clean. Think of how many athletes have bounced back from minor scandals, some worse than this, and gone on to be remembered only for their greatness.
But for now, I think it’s okay to admit that some part of us might carry an asterisk, even if it’s a small one. Not because we don’t believe him, but because once a story like that makes headlines, it tends to stick around in the back of our minds.
If Sinner keeps playing the way he has been, that asterisk will fade for most. His talent is real, his results are undeniable, and unless anything else surfaces, this will likely end up as a footnote- something only the most tuned-in fans remember. But yeah, I thought about it during Wimbledon. Maybe you did too.