On February 27, 2025, the Laureus World Sports Academy, chaired by Sean Fitzpatrick, announced the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner’s nomination for the 2025 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.
This decision follows Sinner’s acceptance of a three-month suspension earlier in February after testing positive for the anabolic agent clostebol. Sinner attributed the positive test to inadvertent contamination from his support team’s use of the substance during massages and sports therapy. The suspension concludes in May.
Sinner’s nomination withdrawn
In an official statement, Fitzpatrick explained:
“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it has been decided that Jannik Sinner’s nomination for this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn.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.”
The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards nominees, selected by a panel of over 1,300 leading sports media professionals in December 2024, will be announced in Madrid on March 3, 2025. The Awards ceremony, held on April 21, 2025, also in Madrid, commemorates the 25th anniversary of the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards.
History of the awards
This milestone event, which features prominent athletes and celebrity sports enthusiasts, aims to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future of sports.
Beyond recognizing athletic excellence, the Laureus World Sports Awards highlight the organization’s commitment to social impact through the Laureus Sport for Good initiative. Founded in 2000, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s vision of sport as a transformative force, Laureus Sport for Good now supports over 300 sports-based programs in more than 40 countries.
Global sports fans are eagerly anticipating the announcement of 2025 nominees and the subsequent ceremony. The awards aim to celebrate outstanding achievements and sports’ positive influence on society while improving children’s lives worldwide.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
