Andy Roddick makes U-turn in Jannik Sinner doping case, says he would be surprised if Italian is not suspended

Andy Roddick has made an interesting comment about Jannik Sinner's doping case as WADA has appealed to the CAS demanding Italian's suspension.

Andy Roddick makes U-turn in Jannik Sinner doping case, says he would be surprised if Italian is not suspended

Andy Roddick (inset) and Jannik Sinner (Images via Open Source/ X)

The Jannik Sinner doping case has taken an interesting turn with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against the Italian getting a clean cheat. The WADA has put forth a demand for a suspension of one to two years for the World No.1 player. This appeal from WADA has created a storm with Andy Roddick also making a U-turn on the matter.

While the American former tennis ace was standing in solidarity with Sinner before the WADA appeal, Roddick now says that he would be surprised if Sinner avoids a suspension from CAS as well. Although the American has no doubts about Sinner’s innocence, he feels a suspension is inevitable.

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I feel like if WADA has re-entered this, it’s with the intent of a suspension. I would be surprised if he doesn’t get suspended for a certain period of time. I think if they say a year, it’s like a six-month situation. I said during the US Open that if they suspended him for six months, I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid. We all have a certain responsibility for our team and for what surrounds us.

Andy Roddick said on his podcast ‘Served with Andy Roddick’.

Roddick, however, defended Sinner amid questions over his innocence, saying the Italian was not an idiot.

The American feels that Sinner would never consume something knowingly that would tarnish his reputation and spoil his chances of winning a Grand Slam title.

Andy Roddick dismisses claims of Jannik Sinner receiving special treatment

When the Jannik Sinner doping case surfaced, the biggest criticism was about the Italian getting preferential treatment from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Andy Roddick has dismissed those claims saying that Sinner was just quick and organized.

Jannik Sinner (4)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X)

The former World No.1 highlighted that a player has 48 hours to come up with an explanation for their failed doping tests and as Sinner managed to do that, he escaped a suspension.

Sinner has not received any special treatment. There are 48 hours after notification of a positive test result, in which an athlete has the opportunity to present their own version of events. If he had already been suspended I would not have said anything, we all know that we have responsibilities to our team and the people around us. But he did everything he had to do during those 48 hours. He managed to move very quickly and in an organized way.

Andy Roddick said. (H/T: Oatsport)

However, Roddick reiterated that Sinner must be suspended for six months at the least after WADA’s appeal to CAS. It is worth mentioning that WADA has not challenged Sinner’s innocence or the amount of drugs in his sample. However, the governing body is not happy with the Italian getting a clean cheat in the matter.

ITIA’s verdict that Sinner bore no fault or negligence in the matter is what has been challenged by the anti-doping agency and it will be heard in the CAS.