In all the Jannik Sinner positive doping test discourse, one of the biggest concerns is whether any other lower-ranked player would have been granted the same opportunity to clear his name while being allowed to keep playing. And while many examples are circulating the internet that seem to suggest preferential treatment might be an issue here (for example Stefano Battaglino), the recent case of Marco Bortolotti proves it’s not necessarily like that.
Same story, different player caliber
Bortolotti peaked at World No. 355 in singles (hasn’t played a singles match in over two years) and is currently ranked World No. 87 in doubles with 10 Challenger titles to his name. The 33-year-old is far from a global star of the sport and is yet to post an ATP Tour win. In October last year, he tested positive for clostebol (the same substance as Sinner, commonly sold in Italy in non-prescription drugs) at the Lisbon Challenger. At the time, he wasn’t even ranked in the doubles Top 100 yet.
The Italian wasn’t provisionally suspended and after getting charged in February 2024, he provided an explanation for the presence of the drug in his system. The ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) decided that he “bore no fault or negligence” and that he “could not reasonably have been expected to take further precautions.” Parts of the full decision are blacked out in regards to what exactly that explanation was and speaking to the Italian press after the Sinner incident came to light, Bortolotti maintained that he couldn’t share the specifics.
The only punishment the doubles specialist received was the disqualification of his prize money, ranking points, and results from the Lisbon Challenger, which is exactly what happened to Sinner with his Indian Wells campaign. Bortolotti kept playing and now finds himself at a career-high in the ATP Doubles Rankings.
That’s not to say it wouldn’t be amazing to receive a clear explanation from the ITIA on what justifies a provisional suspension and what doesn’t in doping cases. It’s also easy to understand the position of any tennis player who feels like they weren’t granted the same opportunity Sinner was, e.g. Kamil Majchrzak or Tara Moore. But Bortolotti’s case proves it’s not as simple as “he got let off because he’s a top-ranked player.”
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
