Like Sinner, Marco Bortolotti has gone through a difficult time.

“I went through hell”: He shares Sinner’s fate

The doping chaos surrounding Jannik Sinner continues to cause a stir. Now a tennis player from Italy who was recently in the same situation has spoken out. His stories are horrifying.

August 22, 2024

From: det

It is hard to imagine how Jannik Sinner is feeling right now. The Sexten superstar tested positive for the banned steroid Clostebol, but was acquitted by an independent court – and yet he is currently the target of journalists, Tennis colleagues and, last but not least, countless keyboard trolls. One person who knows exactly how the 23-year-old is feeling right now is Marco Bortolotti. The Italian doubles specialist suffered the same fate as Sinner a few months ago.

“I went through hell,” says the 33-year-old in an interview with Sports Gazette. Bortolotti may be a household name for one or two tennis fans in South Tyrol, after all, he played for TC Rungg in recent years. At the end of November 2023, his world was turned upside down when he was informed by Itia (International Tennis Integrity Agency): Bortolotti tested positive for clostebol in a doping test - just like Sinner now.

Jannik Sinner is going through a difficult time. © ANSA / stf

"The whole thing dragged on until February of this year. But the case was closed in time. My statement matched the laboratory results. Because it was proven that I was telling the truth - in other words, I did not know that I had come into contact with clostebol - I was acquitted," said Bortolotti, who is currently number 87 in the doubles world rankings. In Jannik Sinner's case, it was apparently the physiotherapist who treated a wound on his finger with a spray - and thus transferred the anabolic steroid clostebol to Sinner during a massage.

“Jannik is going through a very stressful time.” Marco Bortolotti

For Bortolotti, the case was closed with the acquittal, and WADA did not investigate further. In Sinner's case, there is still the possibility that the World Anti-Doping Agency (as well as Italy's doping authority) will appeal against the acquittal. Bortolotti knows: "Jannik is going through a very stressful time. It is a huge blow to his image. I have done a lot of research in these months, spoken to specialists and can say that voluntary doping with clostebol is complete nonsense. It is not a steroid that really dopes you, but - if you come into contact with it - you could still test positive. That is exactly what happened to Jannik, but also to me."

A bad feeling every time

The doubles specialist himself is still struggling with the after-effects of these terrible months. "Every time I get an email from Itia (International Tennis Integrity Agency), I feel sick. Like a few days ago, when my heart stopped. The content of the email was just a suggestion to take part in a free seminar on anti-doping."

Bortolotti also condemns the wave of criticism directed at Sinner (“These are jealous people who have no idea what they are talking about”) and supports the South Tyrolean. “I am 100 percent behind him.”