The issue began when Sinner was subjected to these tests within an eight-day period. The first took place during the Indian Wells tournament on 10 March, and the second out of competition on 18 March, before the Miami tournament. Both tests detected low levels of clostebol in his urine, a testosterone derivative banned in sports due to its muscle-enhancing properties.

Sinner's defence was based on an explanation involving his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. According to the tennis player, the clostebol originated from an over-the-counter spray that Naldi used to treat a cut on his own hand. Following this, when massaging Sinner’s foot, Naldi inadvertently transferred the substance to the player. The ITIA accepted this explanation, concluding there was no evidence that Sinner had intentionally ingested clostebol to gain a competitive advantage.

"Wait a minute, things don't add up," some followers thought. Under this pretext, many users delved into an investigation about Naldi's finger. Tennis specialist reporter Ben Rothenberg lays out in a thread on his X account how the pieces of this puzzle don’t quite fit together. The dates of the defense's statement during the hearing, claiming that Naldi's cut occurred on 3 March, contradict what was seen at the stadium: Naldi never wore a band-aid, except on 10 March, the day Sinner underwent the anti-doping test that later came back positive.

As a result, the ITIA decided not to impose a suspension on Sinner, although he was stripped of the points and prize money earned at the Indian Wells tournament. This measure, while less severe than a suspension, has been seen as a compromise between complete exoneration and the need to uphold the integrity of the sport. However, the decision has not been without criticism. Tennis figures like Australia’s Nick Kyrgios and France’s Lucas Pouille have expressed their dissatisfaction, suggesting that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent in the enforcement of anti-doping regulations.

Kyrgios, known for his outspoken remarks, posted on social media that Sinner should have been suspended for two years, a sanction corresponding to cases of unintentional doping. Meanwhile, Pouille hinted that the case was not handled with the seriousness it deserved, raising doubts about the transparency and rigour of anti-doping procedures in tennis.

Nevertheless, Sinner has received support from his coach, Darren Cahill, who described him as "honest to the core" and an "innocent victim" of an unfortunate accident. Cahill, in an interview with ESPN, emphasised that Sinner is possibly the most professional young player he has worked with and would never seek an unfair advantage through doping. According to the Australian coach, Sinner has endured great pressure since the case emerged, affecting both his physical and emotional performance. Despite these challenges, the Italian has managed to remain competitive, recently securing a victory at the Cincinnati tournament.

Cahill said he did not expect the case to have a lasting impact on public perception of the tennis player. "I think over time this won't affect his legacy in the game. I think people will understand when they read the full statement and what happened and how they determined it was without fault or negligence," explained. "He's suffered through this the most and he's the one that's also had to get out there and play tennis and play tennis tournaments."

Sinner’s case is not an isolated incident in the context of Italian sport. In recent years, there has been an increase in doping cases related to clostebol in Italy, where the substance is marketed over-the-counter in the form of healing creams and sprays, such as Trofodermin. Between 2019 and 2023, 38 Italian athletes tested positive for clostebol, including footballer Fabio Lucioni and tennis players Matilde Paoletti and Mariano Tammaro. This situation has raised concerns about the accessibility of products containing clostebol and the risk of unintentional doping among athletes.

At the end of 2020, a study published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis revealed an increase in clostebol detections, particularly in Italy, where the product is sold without restrictions. Although it is commonly used to treat minor wounds, its presence in an athlete's body, no matter how small, results in a positive anti-doping test, given the absolute ban on the steroid in sports.

The ITIA’s resolution of Sinner’s case has been questioned by some quarters but has also left the door open for future legal action. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has indicated that it reserves the right to appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), a possibility also being considered by the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO). This appeal could lead to a full review of the case and potentially more severe sanctions for Sinner.

“As we always do, we are carefully examining all the documents and reserve the right to appeal,” a WADA spokesperson stated in comments reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. The deadline for filing appeals before CAS is 21 days from the communication of the resolution (15 August). It would end on 6 September, during the US Open.

Sinner’s case has sparked a broader debate about anti-doping policy and the need for greater education and caution among athletes and their teams. As the US Open approaches, attention will not only be on Sinner’s performance on the court but also on how he handles the pressure of this ongoing controversy.