Jannik Sinner’s lawyer narrates struggle of convincing World No.1 to accept WADA’s three-month ban
WADA had approached Jannik Sinner's lawyers twice in their attempt to resolve the doping case but the Italian didn't want to face a ban.
Jannik Sinner (Image via X)
Jannik Sinner‘s lawyer Jamie Singer found it tough to persuade the tennis ace to accept the three-month suspension by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). As the hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) loomed large, WADA made two attempts to resolve the case.
The first was rejected as Sinner’s team wanted to submit the full defense case first. But both parties started to have concrete discussions in early February when WADA approached them once again. According to Singer, the matter was resolved quickly. The part that was ‘quite tricky’ was to convince Sinner that a three-month ban is far better than the CAS hearing.
Sinner, knowing he was innocent, was adamant that he should face no ban at all, as banned anabolic steroid clostebol contaminated him during a physiotherapy session. Singer somehow convinced the World No.1 to do what WADA asked because if his case was not resolved, CAS could impose a ban of one to two years.
When I was saying ‘Well, look, maybe we should settle for three months’, he was saying ‘Well, why would we do that if the first independent tribunal found it was no ban at all, why would I accept three months now?
Jamie Singer told BBC Sport
Sinner was in Doha when his lawyers and WADA reached a settlement agreement and the latter also withdrew the CAS appeal, owing to which, he pulled out of the Qatar Open. His three-month ban means Sinner will be on the sidelines till May 4.
Jannik Sinner was aware of WADA’s compelling offer
Jannik Sinner and WADA have been on the receiving end of criticism after they reached the settlement agreement. He will be off the ATP courts when there will be no Grand Slam events. Jamie Singer said Sinner too knew that the three-month ban was convenient because he wouldn’t have to miss the French Open, season’s second Major.
So the fact that WADA approached us and in the next three months there are no Grand Slams, that seemed to me to make their offer more compelling.
Jamie Singer told BBC Sport
Critics argue WADA conveniently handled Sinner’s case because he is a World No.1 player. WADA General Counsel Ross Wenzel, however, insisted that they resolved the case without keeping the ATP calendar in mind.
Sinner played just one tournament this season, the Australian Open where he beat Alexander Zverev to win his career’s third Major. He could be back on tour at the Italian Open which starts on May 7.
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