“This would have never happened to Novak Djokovic,” ATP veteran slams Jannik Sinner’s team for ‘negligence’ that cost the Italian to test positive for clostebol
ATP vet Nicolas Mahut weighed in on Jannik Sinner's doping controversy bringing up Novak Djokovic's team as an example.
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Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, (in circle) Nicolas Mahut (via Imago/L'Equipe)
ATP veteran Nicolas Mahut has slammed Jannik Sinner’s team for their negligence that led the Italian to test positive for clostebol. Mahut stressed that bad communication inside Sinner’s team would never be allowed in Novak Djokovic’s team.
Sinner was declared to have “no fault or negligence” after twice testing positive for clostebol during the Indian Wells Masters back in March. The news was made public by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) almost six months after Sinner tested positive for the banned substance.
The ITIA also added that Sinner defended that the substance accidentally had entered his system after being treated by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi. He revealed that Naldi used a prohibited spray on hand wounds while treating him. Last week, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that it has appealed the ITIA ruling regarding Sinner’s doping case.
However, Nicolas Mahut blamed Sinner’s team for the Italian testing positive initially. The Frenchman hinted that it was their negligence that resulted in Sinner’s doping case.
This would have never happened to Novak Djokovic. It was negligence from his team’s side, clearly. The internal communication was very bad. It’s a product originating in Italy of which Sinner’s team is aware, and he should have been told this product existed in his entourage. If Sinner’s physio was still going to use it, he should have washed his hands, wear gloves, and it would have never arrived to this.
Nicolas Mahut said via Eurosport
Sinner’s 15-match winning streak ended at the China Open final against Carlos Alcaraz. Despite WADA’s appeal announcement in the second round, the Italian was still able to focus on the court and perform incredibly, going toe-to-toe with the indomitable Spaniard.
Novak Djokovic criticizes WADA’s appeal of Jannik Sinner’s doping case
After arriving in Shanghai for the Masters 1000 tournament, Novak Djokovic voiced his concerns about Jannik Sinner’s doping case. The Serbian slammed the governing bodies for taking too long in sorting out the case.
Sinner was declared free by the ITIA in August, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) claims that the ruling was wrong. The body revealed that Sinner should be given a one or two-year ban from the sport. Elsewhere, Djokovic admitted that the case is not helping the sport.
I guess that’s probably something that even the people who are not following our sport are realising.There are way too many inconsistencies, way too many governing bodies involved. Just this whole case is not helping our sport.
Novak Djokovic said via metro.co.uk
Djokovic will return to the court for the first time since the US Open at the Shanghai Masters. Sinner will also open his Shanghai campaign on Friday (October 4) against Japanese Taro Daniel.
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Victor Okechukwu
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