The 9 Tennis Players That Have Been Suspended For Doping on ATP/WTA Tour

The tennis world was rocked by the announcement that Jannik Sinner has received a three-month suspension for doping. Despite the ban, the men’s world number one will return in time for the French Open, prompting backlash from athletes and fans who argue the punishment is too lenient. This incident adds another chapter to tennis’s long history of doping controversies.

In January, the Italian successfully defended his Australian Open title with a commanding straight-sets win over Alexander Zverev. That victory, combined with his 2024 US Open triumph, cemented his status as the undisputed top seed in men’s singles. However, Sinner’s rising reputation has now been clouded by scrutiny after testing positive for traces of the anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024.

Sinner has maintained his innocence, insisting the banned substance entered his system unknowingly through a spray used by his physiotherapist to treat an injury before a massage. Despite his claims, the 23-year-old has reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirming his suspension. In response, Sinner has dismissed both his trainer, Umberto Ferrara, and physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, for allowing the use of the over-the-counter spray.

Initial reports indicated that WADA was considering a suspension of one to two years for Sinner. However, in a statement released on Saturday, the organization acknowledged that while the Italian was responsible for the negligence of his support staff, there was no intent to cheat. As a result, Sinner has been ruled ineligible to compete from February 9 to May 4, allowing him to return just in time for the French Open, which begins on May 25.

With the ban being far shorter than expected, the decision has sparked widespread criticism within the tennis community. 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios voiced his frustration on social media, declaring that “fairness in tennis does not exist.” Former British No. 1 Tim Henman echoed similar sentiments, calling the timing of Sinner’s reinstatement “a little too convenient” and arguing that the controversy “leaves a pretty sour taste for the sport.”

The Sinner controversy is just the latest in a long line of doping scandals that have shaken the tennis world. Over the years, the sport has witnessed several high-profile cases that have fueled debates over fairness, punishment, and the integrity of competition. From allegations of performance-enhancing drug use to concerns over testing protocols, these incidents have left a lasting impact on professional tennis, leading to both reforms and controversy. Here, we take a closer look at some of the most significant doping cases that have shaped the sport’s history.

Doping in Men’s Tennis

Andre Agassi – 1997

In 1997, amid a dramatic slump in form and a sharp decline in the world rankings, Andre Agassi tested positive for methamphetamine. At the time, the ATP World Tour and WADA handed him only a three-month suspension after he claimed his drink had been spiked. However, the case took a shocking turn in 2009 when Agassi admitted in his autobiography that he had fabricated the excuse and had, in fact, knowingly used crystal meth during a turbulent period in his personal and professional life. Despite this revelation, no formal action was taken against him, as the offence occurred before WADA's establishment in 1999 and before the ITF took over the ATP's anti-doping program in 2007.

Richard Gasquet – 2009

In March 2009, Richard Gasquet tested positive for cocaine, but he denied intentional use, claiming he may have ingested the substance after kissing a woman at a Miami nightclub—an incident famously dubbed "The Cocaine Kiss Controversy." Initially, the ITF and WADA pushed for a two-year suspension, but due to the minimal amount of cocaine detected and his insistence that the exposure was accidental, he was given a one-year ban. However, an independent review later ruled that the ingestion was unintentional, leading to a reduction of his suspension to just six weeks, forcing him to miss both Wimbledon and the French Open. In January 2010, the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared Gasquet of doping charges, allowing him to resume his professional career at the Australian Open that year.

Marin Cilic – 2013

In April 2013, Marin Čilić tested positive for nikethamide, a stimulant known for enhancing respiratory function by increasing blood flow and oxygen intake. Čilić denied any intentional use, claiming the substance was unknowingly ingested through glucose tablets purchased from a pharmacy while competing in France. The ITF accepted his explanation and, instead of the standard two-year ban, issued a nine-month suspension due to the low concentration of the drug and the circumstances of the case.

Originally, the ban was set to keep Čilić out of both the 2013 US Open and the 2014 Australian Open, running from May 1, 2013, to January 31, 2014. However, after successfully appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his suspension was reduced to just four months, with time already served counting toward the penalty. The ruling also reinstated his prize money and ATP ranking points from tournaments where he had competed before the positive test, including the 2013 French Open, Wimbledon, and the BMW Open. Čilić returned to professional tennis on October 25, 2013.

Viktor Troicki – 2013

In April 2013, Viktor Troicki refused to undergo a mandatory blood test as part of the ITF’s anti-doping program. While players can request exemptions, the final decision rests with the ITF. Troicki, who was unwell at the time and suffered from a fear of needles, provided a urine sample but declined the blood test. The ITF rejected his explanation and handed him an 18-month suspension for failing to comply with anti-doping regulations. This ban, running from July 26, 2013, to January 24, 2015, ruled him out of the 2013 US Open, all four Grand Slams in 2014, and the 2015 Australian Open. He also forfeited his ATP World Tour points and prize money from the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters, where the incident occurred.

Troicki appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in October 2013 and successfully had his suspension reduced to 12 months, with time already served counting toward the penalty. His revised ban lasted from July 26, 2013, to July 26, 2014. Upon his return, his ranking had plummeted to 847, forcing him to restart his career on the ITF Challenger circuit before working his way back onto the ATP Tour.

Doping in Women’s Tennis

Martina Hingis – 2007

In 2007, Martina Hingis tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, resulting in a two-year suspension from the ITF. As a consequence, she forfeited her world ranking and was fined over $120,000. Hingis denied using cocaine and even conducted a private test that returned negative results, but the ITF upheld the ban, citing strict liability. By that point, she had already announced her retirement and chose not to formally contest the ruling.

After several years away from the sport, Hingis made a successful comeback in 2013, eventually reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking in women's doubles.

Barbora Strycova – 2013

Former WTA world No. 1 in women's doubles, Barbora Strycova, tested positive for sibutramine, a banned stimulant, at the 2013 Luxembourg Open. The substance, used for weight loss and appetite suppression, had been added to WADA’s prohibited list in 2012.

Strycova denied any intent to enhance her performance but admitted to using the weight-loss supplement Acai Berry Thin, which contained sibutramine. The ITF acknowledged her lack of intent to cheat and issued a reduced six-month suspension instead of the standard two-year ban. As part of the ruling, she also forfeited all WTA Tour points and prize money from the 2012 Luxembourg and Ismaning Opens. The ban kept her off the court for six months, causing her to miss the 2013 Australian Open.

Maria Sharapova – 2016

Russian tennis star and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova admitted to failing a WADA drug test at the 2016 Australian Open after testing positive for meldonium, a substance used to treat heart disease. She had been taking the drug for over a decade to manage flu symptoms, diabetes risks, and magnesium deficiency. However, meldonium was added to WADA’s banned list on January 1, 2016, due to its performance-enhancing effects, such as improved blood circulation and faster recovery.

Sharapova claimed she was unaware of the drug’s newly prohibited status, but the ITF handed her a two-year ban, preventing her from competing until January 25, 2018. After an appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the suspension to 15 months, ruling that she had not intended to cheat. Sharapova returned to professional tennis in April 2017 and made her Grand Slam comeback at the 2018 US Open, reaching the fourth round before falling to Anastasija Sevastova. During her suspension, she wrote her memoir, Unstoppable: My Life So Far, which was published in June 2018.

Simona Halep – 2022

Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, was suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for Roxadustat, an anti-anaemia drug, at the US Open. She maintained that the substance entered her system through a contaminated supplement and was provisionally banned while awaiting a hearing.

In May 2023, Halep was hit with a second doping charge due to irregularities in her biological passport. She accused the International Tennis Integrity Agency of delaying the process and damaging her reputation. On September 12, 2023, she was handed a four-year ban, retroactive to October 2022. However, after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, her suspension was reduced to nine months—already served—allowing her to return to competition at the 2024 Miami Open.