The news of Jannik Sinner’s hearing took over headlines soon after his Australian Open win. Sinner, who had just retained his Australian Open title, was set to get a hearing for his accidental use of illegal substances.
The verdict became important at the time because the world number one was in danger of losing his dominance, even though he was winning everything. Many fans with Roland Garros tickets wondered if he would feature in the 2025 tournament.
But the verdict is now out, and Sinner has wilfully accepted a 3-month ban and will most likely be able to play from the start of May.
The Verdict
In the end, then, everyone got something they wanted. For Jannik Sinner, the three-month ban he has accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is less than he might have received had he let the appeal go the natural distance.
While he will miss almost nothing of note, at least in terms of grand slams, since the world No one will be free to return in early May, ready for the French Open and a shot at a third successive major title and fourth in total.
For Wada, Sinner’s partial admission of responsibility highlights a key part of the anti-doping programme: that an individual is responsible for what goes in their body, which extends to their entourage. For the sporting world at large, it’s a rebuttal to those who say the superstars get preferential treatment.
Of course, having the recently crowned Australian Open champion receive a drug ban is not a good look for the sport, but it could have been a lot worse.
In appealing against the original decision by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) not to ban Sinner, Wada said it was seeking a ban of at least a year. The three-month settlement means it will be out of the way before the next grand slam begins at Roland Garros in May.
Sinner will be breathing a big sigh of relief, no doubt.
A lengthy ban would have been a heavy burden for something that he, the ITIA, and Wada all agreed was not his fault. If the explanation given – that the clostebol accidentally entered the Italian system via contamination from a medicine used by his physio to treat a cut finger – seemed a little fanciful, few inside tennis believed that Sinner had tried to cheat.
Indeed, had there been a provision in the original case for a three-month ban to be issued, Sinner might have settled for that, too.
It would have allowed him to say: ‘OK, I know I did nothing wrong myself, but appreciate that my entourage did and accept my fate.’ As it was, the panel that judged the case was restricted to handing out a minimum 12-month ban if it felt he was guilty.
That, too, was surely a factor in the Wada settlement. From 2027, more flexibility will be shown to those contaminated in doping cases.
Panels will be allowed to issue bans of 0-24 months, presumably resulting in shorter bans for those proving their doping sample resulted from contamination. It’s a safe bet Sinner’s lawyers stressed that point.
Simona Halep – Treated Wrongly
The settlement will have done little to appease the feelings of some other players and fans with Roland Garros tickets, especially those of Simona Halep and Britain’s Tara Moore. Both players were also the victim of contamination: Sinner was treated more kindly than they were.
The cases of Halep and Moore were significantly different from Sinner’s; they were more complicated and required more assessment. Still, it’s also true that Sinner, as the world’s No. 1 and a rich man, had the luxury of immediately calling on a team of lawyers.
Throughout the entire case, Sinner has done a decent job of answering every question in press conferences, which may sound like a given. Still, nevertheless, it helps him in terms of how people inside and outside tennis perceive him.
Throughout, he has suggested that he has been able to continue to play his best tennis because his conscience is clear that he did nothing wrong.
With the doubt lifted from his shoulders, Sinner seems likely to continue to be the man to beat. The Italian lost six matches in 2024 and brilliantly began this year, winning the Australian Open to claim his third major.
Three months off might halt his momentum, but it also allows for recovery after an intense period on and off the court.
The chances are that when he does return – most likely at the Rome Masters in May – he will do so with his head clear and body rested, which spells bad news for his rivals.
Roland Garros Tickets – All You Need
Roland-Garros returns to Porte d’Auteuil in Paris from May 25 to June 8, 2025. The French Open tennis tournament promises spectators and TV viewers some thrilling sporting moments on clay.
The French Tennis Association has now released dates for the Roland Garros tickets.
For the general public, it opens on Monday, January 27.
However, the on-sale system has been changed for this edition to ensure that the best tickets are not snapped up in seconds and that the waiting time is not too long. For once, there’s no need to rush: the French Tennis Federation has set up a draw “to guarantee fair access to the various offers” to combat fraud.
To take part, all you have to do is register on the Roland-Garros website from 10 a.m. on Monday until Sunday, February 9.
If you are selected, you will receive an email to purchase your tickets at the beginning of March. To ensure that as many people as possible have access, the number of tickets is limited, with a maximum of 4 for the main courts, 4 for the side courts, 15 for Opening Week and on the side courts from June 2 to 8 per order.
While getting Roland Garros tickets can be quite competitive, trusted resellers can also help get you access with ease.