Ex-ATP pro rants against ‘collapsed’ anti-doping system accusing WADA of ‘cheating’ after Jannik Sinner’s lenient ban
Jannik Sinner's three-month doping suspension will lift on May 4 just before the Italian Open, and he will not be missing the French Open.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)
Jannik Sinner‘s lenient three-month ban created a quite stir in the tennis community and former World No.19 Ion Tiriac too joined in the debate. The Romanian minced no words while criticizing the verdict the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) passed recently.
Sinner bore no fault or negligence in the International Anti-Doping Agency’s (ITIA) judgment. WADA stepped in and demanded that he should be banned for his team’s negligence. They were adamant in their stance and appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to impose a ban of between one and two years on the Italian ace.
Then surprisingly, WADA themselves withdrew their appeal just a couple of months before the scheduled CAS hearing, handing the 23-year-old a ban of three months. WADA is accused of conveniently handling Sinner’s doping case so that he doesn’t have to miss out on Grand Slam events, for the World No.1, who clinched his third Major trophy at the Australian Open, will be banned till May 4. The French Open is scheduled to start on May 25.
The system has collapsed; there are thousands of athletes and probably hundreds in my sport, tennis, who have up to 14 or 15 exemptions and still have not tested positive. It’s cheating the sport, cheating oneself, cheating other competitors, and cheating the audience. The game is rigged, my friends, and deeply rigged.
Ion Tiriac told L’Equipe
Even those who gave Sinner unwavering support amidst a barrage of criticism because of his failed drug test and escaping a ban, started to question WADA’s decision. The three-time Grand Slam champion, following his ban, could return at the Italian Open which starts on May 7.
Andy Roddick claimed Jannik Sinner’s ban is borderline laughable
Andy Roddick doesn’t accuse Jannik Sinner of unintentional doping. He even went on a war of words with Nick Kyrgios who never held himself back while criticizing his colleague. WADA’s decision, however, even took Roddick by surprise.
Now, this whole thing with the — you play the first Major, you win it and then you take a little, you know siesta, and then you continue on with a week, you know a warm-up tournament in Rome, and then you miss no Majors. Now I don’t know how this, maybe it’s just good fortune for the Sinner team, but the timeline is borderline laughable.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast
Sinner tested positive for the banned drug clostebol twice in March last year and faced two provisional suspensions. While dealing with the doping scandal, Sinner won the US Open and despite the CAS appeal, he continued to produce consistent performances, ending the 2024 year as the most successful player.
He started the 2025 season at the Australian Open and breezed past Alexander Zverev in the final to claim his third Major title. Sinner then chose not to defend the Rotterdam Open and was scheduled to play the Qatar Open when WADA’s verdict forced him to withdraw.
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Gouri Das
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