Siner is out of competition for Laureus due to doping

Italian tennis player Janiko Siner's nomination for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award was withdrawn today due to the Italian's three-month suspension for doping.

Laureus World Sports Academy President Sean Fitzpatrick said in a statement that the ban resulting from Siner's settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) led to the decision to withdraw the nomination.

"Following discussions with the Laureus Academy, it has been decided to withdraw Janik Siner's nomination for this year's Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award," Fitzpatrick said.

"We have been following this case and believe that a three-month suspension makes the nomination ineligible. Janik and his team have been informed of this decision," he added.

Siner and WADA reached a settlement agreement on February 15th.

WADA, which had sought a one-year suspension for Siner, challenged last year's decision by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) not to suspend Siner, due to how ITIA assessed accidental contamination with a banned anabolic steroid last March.

Siner's explanation, that the traces of clostebol in his doping sample were the result of a massage by a trainer who used the substance after he cut his finger, was accepted.

Last year, the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award was won by Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic.

The nominees for this year's awards will be announced on Monday in Madrid.