A Brazilian tennis player faced a doping allegation but has been exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) following claims that his positive test for an anabolic steroid stemmed from consuming tainted meat during a tournament in Colombia.

The ITIA announced on Thursday that Nicolas Zanellato, who had been provisionally suspended for six months, is now allowed to compete again. The agency determined that Zanellato was not at fault for the anti-doping rule breach, after examining evidence from interviews, documentation, and recommendations from independent scientists accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

In a separate case, WADA dropped its appeal regarding the ITIA’s decision to clear Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked ATP player, agreeing to a three-month suspension in a settlement.

Zanellato, 23, achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of 458 in April 2024 and has accumulated over $45,000 in earnings across his singles and doubles career, as reported by the ATP.

He tested positive for boldenone, a prohibited anabolic steroid, while participating in an ATP Challenger event in Ibague, Colombia, in June 2024. This substance has been typically associated with several doping violations among minor league baseball players recently.

Initially suspended in August, Zanellato’s appeal against that suspension was rejected shortly thereafter. The ITIA’s comprehensive ruling indicated that Zanellato insisted he had not knowingly consumed boldenone and believed that he might have ingested it through contaminated beef while in Colombia, where the use of such steroids for cattle growth is prevalent.

To support his claims, Zanellato presented additional evidence, including detailed receipts and information regarding the meat he consumed during various visits to a local restaurant away from the tournament’s premises. The ITIA concluded that it was more probable than not that the boldenone detected in his sample resulted from beef he ingested shortly before the sample collection.

The player’s explanation was corroborated by independent scientific authorities, which led to his clearance announced on Tuesday. He is now eligible to resume his competitive endeavors.

It is important to note, however, that the ITIA clarified that not all instances of meat contamination, whether involving Colombian beef or otherwise, will automatically result in a no fault or negligence ruling.