Jannik Sinner’s bid for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award has hit a major roadblock: his nomination has been retracted following a three-month suspension due to doping. Earlier this month, the world number one agreed to this suspension after settling with the World Anti-Doping Agency over two positive drug tests from last year.
This 23-year-old tennis sensation from Italy, who claimed victory at the Australian Open just this past January, is set to serve his suspension starting February 9th and lasting until May 4th.
In a statement from Laureus World Sports Academy’s chairman, Sean Fitzpatrick, he explained, “After thorough discussions within the Laureus Academy, we’ve come to the conclusion that Jannik Sinner’s nomination for this year’s award should be officially withdrawn.”
Fitzpatrick elaborated, “We’ve kept a close watch on this case, considering the findings of the relevant global authorities. While we acknowledge the mitigating factors involved, the three-month suspension unfortunately disqualifies the nomination.” The decision has been conveyed to both Sinner and his team, ensuring they stay in the loop.
