Jannik Sinner bizarrely axed from Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Awards despite no nominations being confirmed yet

Jannik Sinner won't be winning the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in 2025 and taking over from Novak Djokovic despite his incredible 2024. This has been confirmed as being due to his three month doping ban.

Sinner accepted the ban recently for the use of Clostebol and instead of going to the CAS appeal, he accepted a shorter ban which divided opinion. But it didn't divide the opinion of Laureus in confirming their shortlist. Albeit this muddied by the fact that Sinner was not on the list and there is no list yet anyway as it isn't confirmed until early next week. So makes for a pretty bizarre set of circumstances.

A statement wrote: “Following discussions by the Laureus Academy it has been decided that Jannik Sinner’s Nomination for this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn. We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and - whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved - feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible. Jannik and his team have been informed.”

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But what makes this bizarre is that the nominations aren't even confirmed until Monday March 3 so in reality only serves to stop questioning when he is not on the list next week.

Sinner has won multiple Grand Slam titles over the past season and has been the imperious World No.1. Often it is a tennis players who wins the award. Novak Djokovic currently holds it and has won it five times. He is level with Roger Federer all time.

Tiger Woods and Lionel Messi both have eight nominations each over the course of their respective careers. Formed in 2000, it is a shortlist of six nominees which comes from a panel comprised of the world's leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters. It is often considered the sporting equivalent of the Oscars.

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