Former sprinter explains how 3-month doping ban from WADA ‘could paradoxically favor’ Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner received a three-month ban after WADA reached a settlement agreement with him and withdrew their CAS appeal.

Former sprinter explains how 3-month doping ban from WADA ‘could paradoxically favor’ Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner (Image via X)

Jannik Sinner is serving his three-month doping ban. He wants to use this time wisely to prepare for the clay season.

His fitness trainer, Marco Panichi, recently revealed that Sinner’s training would be similar to those that are carried out by an athletic specialist. Former sprinter Stefano Tilli, who is currently the coach of the Italian Athletics Federation explained what the World No.1 should do to train like track and field athletes.

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Tennis, like many other sports, has a clear athletic component: fundamentals such as running and short sprints or certain strength, resistance, and lactic capacity work are essential and must be treated with great care, taking into account that on average the time available, in such a technical discipline, is what it is. This is why, from this point of view, the suspension could paradoxically favor it.

Stefano Tilli told La Gazzetta dello Sport

Tilli said that the 23-year-old should do exercises that help to refine his speed. He also thinks a 20-30 meter sprint can harden Sinner’s ankles and joints. About his mental resistance that can help Sinner during long matches, Tilli said that the three-time Grand Slam doesn’t need much. He is confident that Sinner will make a strong comeback after his ban.

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Rennae Stubbs extends support to Jannik Sinner once again

Jannik Sinner was in Doha last month to participate in the Qatar Open but he had to withdraw from the tournament because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had reached a case resolution agreement with him. He then made his first public appearance when he attended the Gucci fashion show in Milan.

Jannik Sinner (9)
Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

During the event, Sinner sat in the front row with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Tennis Channel shared Sinner’s picture from the event on their X account, prompting one user to question whether they would have promoted players such as Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova both of who were handed suspension due to doping cases.

The user received a reply from Rennae Stubbs who explained that Sinner has been acquitted of all charges by both the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and the WADA. Sinner tested positive for clostebol during a physiotherapy session and both ITIA and the WADA believed in his explanation.

ITIA and WADA both cleared him and said he was not at fault. WADA knew they needed a win of some sort to make sure players don’t use that excuse going forward. “My team” contaminated me. There was ambiguity in this judgement with his team being the cause but they needed something.

Rennae Stubbs wrote

Check out her post here:

WADA has been censured by many from the tennis community, including Stubbs as she argued that the anti-doping agency should never have interfered when ITIA ruled that he didn’t intentionally use clostebol. Sinner’s ban will lift on May 4.