Just before the US Open came the news that Jannik Sinner was caught in two doping tests taken in Indian Wells in March. The Italian world number one had been massaged by his physio and ingested the steroid Clostebol via the spray Trofodermin. That meant that he was acquitted in the investigation that followed.
The product can be bought without a prescription over the counter in Italy and costs SEK 160.
In addition to the clear anti-doping symbol, there is a warning text on the packaging: “For those participating in sports: use of the drug without therapeutic needs constitutes doping and may result in positive anti-doping tests.”
The experienced lawyer Giovanni Fontana has worked with doping-related cases for 30 years and in ten of the cases it has been about Clostebol. In nine of the cases there were convictions.
Massage without gloves gave results
– When an athlete tests positive for Clostebol, the first thing I ask them is if they used Trofodermin. And if they don’t have it, I tell them to go see if a family member or partner has it, because it’s so easily transmitted,” Fontana told the AP.
It was Sinner’s physio trainer who bought the spray to treat physis in the team that had a laceration on a finger. Physio then massaged Sinner without gloves causing the Clostebol to spread in small amounts throughout Sinner’s body, causing a rash.
Since the incident, Sinner has fired his physical trainer and physio, which may proceed to trial in Italy as Sinner’s reputation has been tarnished.
– I know I didn’t do anything wrong, says Sinner, who will play in the semi-finals against Jack Draper in the US Open in his next match on the night of Saturday.