French ATP ace convinced he would’ve been banned for 2 years as he gives verdict on WADA’s ‘strange’ three-month suspension on Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner will miss several important tournaments and is on the cusp of losing his No.1 ranking after WADA handed him a three-month ban.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via X)
French tennis ace Benjamin Bonzi hinted at Jannik Sinner getting preferential treatment after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) handed the Italian a three-month suspension after withdrawing their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Bonzi thinks that had he become a victim of unintentional doping, the anti-doping agencies would’ve already handed him a lengthy ban.
Sinner failed the drug test in March last year and avoided a ban after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared that he bore no fault or negligence. WADA was adamant that Sinner should face a ban between one and two years because the ITIA didn’t issue their verdict according to the current doping rules.
They appealed to the CAS for a long ban but just a couple of months before the scheduled CAS hearing, WADA settled an agreement with Sinner. Sinner’s ban will end on May 4.
WADA’s decision caused quite a stir in the tennis community as several notable names didn’t hold themselves back while giving their opinions on the controversial ban. Bonzi, who recently played the Open 13, joined in the debate and said that he found the entire situation strange.
They say he agreed to take three months. So we offer him something and he says yes or no every time? I don’t know if it’s good or not, but it’s a very strange situation. There are things we can’t control, but I’m pretty sure that if it had happened to me, I would have already taken two years and we wouldn’t be talking about it anymore. These are delicate subjects, but I have the impression that the treatment is a bit different.
Benjamin Bonzi told L’Equipe
BREAKING:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 15, 2025
WADA announces they’ve agreed to a case resolution in Jannik Sinner’s case.
His suspension will last from February 9th to May 4th.
WADA accepted that Jannik DID NOT CHEAT or have any performance enhancing benefit.
“WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to… pic.twitter.com/7Nfc1k2UNp
Daniil Medvedev reacts to Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban
Daniil Medvedev too made his feelings known on the WADA’s judgment on Jannik Sinner. He wants this case to create a precedent where every player would have the opportunity to defend themselves. The Russian, however, would find it bizarre if WADA follow a different set of procedures while dealing with similar doping cases in the future.
I hope that the next few times, the players will be able to do that. WADA will say, ‘We’ve found that (anti-doping rule violation), you get two years.’ And you say, ‘Well, no, I want one month’.
Daniil Medvedev said at the press conference after defeat at Open 13
Medvedev suffered a straight-set defeat to Hamad Medjedovic in the semifinal of Open 13 and will play the Qatar Open next. The 4th seed will be kick-starting his campaign in the ATP 500 event in Doha against Karen Khachanov.
Sinner too was scheduled to play in the Qatar Open but won’t be able to due to WADA’s ban. He is expected to make his comeback at the Italian Open in May.
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Gouri Das
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