Sinner was ruled to bear no fault or negligence for the positive tests.
The ITIA described the levels found in Sinner’s sample as “low”. His lawyers said it amounted to “less than a billionth of a gram”.
A statement from his lawyers said Sinner’s fitness trainer had “purchased a product, easily available over the counter in any Italian pharmacy, which he gave to Jannik’s physiotherapist to care for a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger”.
The physiotherapist applied the spray between 5-13 March, with Indian Wells taking place from 6-17 March.
During that time, the physio provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in “unknowing transdermal contamination”.
“The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused the inadvertent contamination,” the lawyer’s statement read.
The ITIA consulted with scientific experts, who said Sinner’s explanation was plausible, before carrying out its own investigation.
Sinner and his team fully co-operated with the investigation.
The ITIA accepted his explanation and that the violation was not intentional before referring the case to an independent tribunal to determine “what, if any, fault the player bore and therefore the appropriate outcome”.
The independent tribunal subsequently determined a finding of no fault or negligence, meaning the 23-year-old would not be suspended.
However, he will lose his 400 ranking points and $325,000 prize money from Indian Wells.
