Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner has been removed from next month’s MGM Rewards Slam exhibition event in Las Vegas due to a three-month suspension related to a pair of failed doping tests. The 23-year-old, currently ranked among the top players in men’s tennis, was set to participate in the high-profile event at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on March 2. However, with his suspension now in effect, Sinner will be replaced by Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud.
Ruud, along with Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul, will now headline the event, which promises an exciting lineup of tennis talent. The event’s organizers confirmed the change in a news release, stating that Sinner would not compete following his recent suspension.
Sinner has enjoyed significant success on the ATP Tour, including winning three of the last five Grand Slam titles with back-to-back victories at the Australian Open (including his most recent win this January) and a US Open title last September. His dominance in the sport has made his suspension particularly shocking for fans and players alike.
Ruud and Zverev, both of whom have reached the final at major tournaments three times, will join Fritz and Paul in the exhibition. Fritz, who reached the final of the 2023 US Open, lost to Sinner in that championship match, while Paul’s best Grand Slam result was a semifinal appearance.
Sinner’s Suspension Details
The suspension stems from Sinner’s involvement in a doping controversy earlier this year. Last weekend, Sinner accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This followed an appeal by WADA against the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) earlier decision to clear him of wrongdoing.
Sinner tested positive twice for trace amounts of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024. He later explained that the positive results were the result of accidental contamination. According to Sinner, a cream purchased by a now-dismissed staff member which was applied to him during a massage by another team member contained the banned substance.
As part of his settlement, Sinner will be sidelined from competition until early May, missing both the Indian Wells and Miami Open tournaments. His return to the ATP Tour is expected to come at the Rome Masters, scheduled to begin in his home country in early May. The timing of the ban, which has raised eyebrows among some players, ensures that Sinner will not miss a Grand Slam tournament, as the next major event on the calendar is the French Open, starting May 25.
While his absence from the Las Vegas exhibition is a setback, Sinner remains determined to return to the court and continue his pursuit of tennis greatness after his suspension concludes.