Tennis Star Sinner Avoids Ban Despite Positive Tests

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Read Engoo Daily News articles with Engoo tutors

August 23, 2024

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Exercise 1

Vocabulary

Repeat each word, definition, and example sentence after your tutor.

performance-enhancing

Adjective

pərˈfɔːrməns ɪnhænsɪŋ

relating to a substance that is taken by an athlete to help them do better in competition

Lance Armstrong's reputation was ruined after he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.

suspension

Noun

səˈspenʃn

the action of not allowing, or the state of not being allowed to take part in something for a short period of time

Her suspension from school came as a shock to her parents.

anabolic steroid

Noun

ˌænəbɑːlɪk ˈsterɔɪd, ˌænəbɑːlɪk ˈstɪrɔɪd

an artificial substance that promotes muscle growth, sometimes taken illegally by athletes

The test results showed traces of an anabolic steroid and other performance-enhancing drugs.

physiotherapist

Noun

ˌfɪziəʊˈθerəpɪst

a person trained to treat illness or injury using physical methods such as massage, exercise, etc.

Physiotherapists sometimes use infrared lamps to treat muscle injuries.

provisionally

Adverb

prəˈvɪʒənəli

for a short time or requiring further confirmation

The companies have provisionally agreed to the merger, but the terms are yet to be finalized.

resolution

Noun

ˌrɛzəˈluːʃən

the action of finding a solution to a difficult problem, situation, etc.

The CEO has called an emergency meeting in the hopes of coming to quick resolution on the issue.

Exercise 2

Article

Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

Tennis Star Sinner Avoids Ban Despite Positive Tests

Top-ranked tennis player Jannick Sinner twice tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance but has avoided suspension — a decision that has divided the sport.

Sinner, who is from Italy, tested positive in March but won't be suspended because the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said that the anabolic steroid entered his system unintentionally after a massage from his physiotherapist.

The ITIA made its announcement on August 20 and some other tennis players weren't happy.

Canadian player Denis Shapovalov said on X: "Different rules for different players." He suggested that other players have been given bans in similar situations — although he didn't give any names.

However, the ITIA said Sinner will lose the $325,000 in prize money and 400 ranking points he earned at the tournament in Indian Wells, California, where his first positive drug test happened.

During that event in March, Sinner tested positive for low levels of Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used on the skin.

Sinner tested positive again eight days later in an out-of-competition test.

He was provisionally suspended because of those test results, but he successfully appealed and was allowed to keep competing in tournaments.

In June, he became the world's number one ranked player for the first time and on August 19 he won the Cincinnati Open.

Sinner, who is now 23, said the test results happened because his physiotherapist used an over-the-counter spray that contained Clostebol to treat a cut on their finger.

The physiotherapist then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves.

The ITIA said it accepted Sinner's explanation and agreed that he was not intentionally doping.

However, some have said that Sinner has been given special treatment as one of the stars of the sport, not necessarily with regard to the outcome, but the fast resolution of his case and the fact that it all happened in private.