ITIA clears one more player in doping case with 'No fault or Negligence' verdict

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced that a Brazilian player has been allowed to resume tennis activities after it was confirmed that he was a case of ‘No fault or Negligence’.

The body has received serious criticism after providing a similar verdict regarding the world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner after he tested positive in two tests for a banned substance last year. The player’s counsel claimed that the availability of the banned substance in the player’s sample was because a member of his coaching staff applied cream to heal a cut on his finger, which contained the banned substance clostebol. The decision received widespread criticism, and even the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the verdict in the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).

However, the case was concluded on Saturday earlier this week as both WADA and Sinner reached an agreement where the player will stay out of action for three months after accepting the negligence of his team.

In an interesting turn of events, another player has not been given a clean chit in the doping case by the ITIA. The player is from Brazil, Nicolas Zanellato, who has been on a provisional suspension ever since tested positive for the banned substance Boldenone. The ITIA confirmed the development in a statement where it was claimed that Zanellato has provided evidence that the availability of the banned substance in his sample was because of having contaminated meat in Columbia.

“ITIA today confirms that Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato is free to return to play, having provided evidence to satisfy the ITIA that their positive sample for the prohibited substance boldenone came as a result of consuming contaminated meat in Colombia,” read the statement. “Following an investigation, which included interviews, review of detailed documentation, and advice from independent WADA-approved scientists, the ITIA found that Zanellato bore No Fault or Negligence for their Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Zanellato, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 458 in April 2024, provided an in-competition sample while competing in an ATP Challenger event in Ibagué, Colombia, on 25 June 2024.”