WATCH: Fans boo Jannik Sinner during US Open clash after he failed two drug tests

During Jannik Sinner’s round 1 encounter at the US Open earlier today against Mackenzie MacDonald, the crowd made sure to make their feelings known to the player after his doping scandal came out. Even though he got the win against the home team favourite 3-1, that was not what the tennis community has been talking about. 

Although Jannik Sinner's side of the men's singles bracket includes players like Daniil Medvedev as well as Carlos Alcaraz, his biggest task in New York will be hustling the talk about his doping conviction.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) disclosed earlier this week that samples submitted by Sinner for anti-doping tests on March 10 and 18—during and following the Indian Wells Masters—contained low concentrations of clostebol, a prohibited anabolic steroid. The 23-year-old Italian was automatically given an interim suspension for both tests, but he quickly appealed to an independent panel in both cases, allowing him to resume his play.

😳 Jannik Sinner gets booed in his first match back after the news that he failed two drug tests. pic.twitter.com/brVISynbZ8

— Zain | Ban Janeedle Dopener. (@ItzzZain10) August 27, 2024

Why was Jannik Sinner allowed to participate in the US Open?

According to the ITIA, Jannik Sinner disclosed how the drug got into his system. They added, “as a result of contamination from a support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray (available in Italy) containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound.”

On August 15, the independent tribunal that conducted the ITIA's investigation came to the conclusion that there was "No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility."

After the Sinner incident, there has been a lot of discussion in the tennis community on various standards for different players. The Italian put all of that behind him when he played Mackenzie McDonald during their Round 1 encounter at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), Sinner has forfeited the $400 ATP Ranking points and $325,000 in prize money that he earned for making it to the Indian Wells semifinals, even though he was not banned.