Top tennis journalist explains what ATP should do to prevent confusion about Jannik Sinner’s doping scandal

The WADA has imposed a three-month ban on World No.1 Jannik Sinner due to the negligence of his team members.

Top tennis journalist explains what ATP should do to prevent confusion about Jannik Sinner’s doping scandal

Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

Jannik Sinner‘s doping saga has divided the tennis world and many of his colleagues too are of the opinion that he received preferential treatment from anti-doping organizations just because he is a top player. American tennis journalist Jon Wertheim, however, suggested a solution on how to prevent confusion regarding Sinner’s doping ban.

Sinner was contaminated twice by clostebol last year and was acquitted of all the charges by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) thought Sinner was at fault for the negligence of his team members, so they approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to seek a ban of one to two years.

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But the WADA sent shockwaves across the tennis world when, just a couple of months before the CAS hearing, they decided to withdraw their appeal. They had approached Sinner’s lawyers twice to reach a case resolution, handing Sinner just a three-month ban.

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Amidst criticism, Sinner was also backed by several current and former tennis players from both ATP and WTA. Daniel Vallverdu, the former coach of Andy Murray, who now works with Bulgarian tennis ace Grigor Dimitrov, came out in support of the World No.1, and under his tweet, Wertheim dropped a comment explaining his way to avoid misunderstandings.

“Entitled to your own opinions; not your own facts“…. Be curious to know what- if any – educating of players @atptour did here. A “Sinner situation explainer/ FAQ” email might have prevented a lot of these unforced errors….

Jon Wertheim wrote

Check out his post here:

Daniel Vallverdu feels Jannik Sinner should not have been banned in first place

Jannik Sinner didn’t use clostebol intentionally but the reason why he has to miss three months of tennis is because of the negligence of his team members. His former physio, Giacomo Naldi, used a spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on his finger. The cream was given to him by Sinner’s former fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, who had purchased it from Italy.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

Both the ITIA and WADA accepted Sinner’s explanation. Clostebol, which was present in his body in a very small amount, never enhanced his performance. Anti-doping bodies are at the receiving end of criticism because of ban verdicts on the players despite them being proven innocent, and Daniel Vallverdu too slammed them.

The Anti-Doping agencies are at fault for the lack of consistency and accuracy with most tennis cases lately. There should have never been a ban here. Not an easy time for JS and Team. Stay strong and Rome will be the perfect setting for the warm welcome he deserves.

Daniel Vallverdu wrote on X

Check out his tweet here:

Sinner, whose ban lifts on May 4, could play the Italian Open, which is scheduled to start on May 7. He has so far played just one tournament, the Australian Open, where he defended his title.