The nomination of Jannik Sinner for the Laoreus World Sportsman of the Year prize has been withdrawn after he received a three-month doping ban.
Earlier this month, the number one in the world accepted an immediate prohibition of three months of tennis after reaching an arrangement with the World Anti-Doping Agency on his two positive drug tests last year.
The 23-year-old Italian, who won the Australian Open in January, will be suspended from 9 February to 4 May.
“After discussions from the Laureus Academy, it was decided that the nomination of Jannik Sinner for this year's Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award will be withdrawn,” said Laoreus World Sports Academy chairman Sean Fitzpatrick.
“We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global authorities and – while we notice the mitigating circumstances – believe that the three -month prohibition does not qualify for the nomination.
“Jannik and his team have been informed.”
Sinner was previously released from a misconduct by an independent panel after he had been tested positively on the forbidden Fabric Class Bill in March.
The research by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) showed that Sinner was unintentionally infected with the anabolic steroid by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
Wada, after he had lodged an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), initially sought a ban of up to two years for the triple Grand SLAM champion.
Wada, however, reached a settlement after the acceptance of Sinner was unintentionally contaminated by a forbidden substance and “was not going to cheat”.
The nominees for the Laoreus World Sports Awards, selected by a panel of journalists and broadcasters, will be announced on 3 March.
