The nomination of Italian tennis star Yannick Sinner, currently ranked as the world number one, for the prestigious Laureus Award for Best Athlete of the Year was officially withdrawn on Thursday. This decision followed a three-month suspension imposed on him after failing two drug tests. According to a spokesperson, the tests revealed the presence of clostebol, a banned substance, in his system.
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Shawn Fitzpatrick, the president of the Laureus Academy, stated, "After careful deliberations within the Academy, it was decided to withdraw Yannick Sinner’s nomination for Best Athlete of the Year for this year." He continued, “We have closely followed the situation and the decisions made by the relevant global sports authorities. Despite the mitigating circumstances surrounding the case, the three-month suspension renders him ineligible for the nomination. Yannick and his team have been duly informed of this decision.”
The 23-year-old Sinner, who had been nominated for his impressive achievements, including winning the Australian Open in the past two years and the US Open in 2024, was also held accountable for the failed tests. Earlier this month, he agreed to a suspension after admitting to "partial responsibility" for the errors made by his team, which led to the two positive drug tests taken in March 2024.
This suspension will officially end on May 4, 2025, meaning Sinner will be eligible to return to competitive play just before the French Open (Roland Garros) begins. His return will be highly anticipated, as he has become one of the most promising figures in the world of tennis.
The Laureus Awards have been given annually since 2000, honoring outstanding achievements in sports. The awards are voted on by a committee of 69 distinguished sports figures within the Laureus Academy. In 2024, Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic won the prestigious title of Best Athlete of the Year for a record fifth time, further cementing his legacy in the sport.
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