“Only top players images matter?” – Banned tennis player Tara Moore devastated as Jannik Sinner ‘gets away’ with no suspension after doping row

British doubles player Tara Moore slams the ITIIA for allowing Jannik Sinner continue playing despite being tested positive for doping.

“Only top players images matter?” – Banned tennis player Tara Moore devastated as Jannik Sinner ‘gets away’ with no suspension after doping row

Tara Moore and Jannik Sinner (via Imago/X)

British doubles player Tara Moore has slammed the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for their partiality following their ruling on Jannik Sinner, who tested positive for a banned substance. Sinner was not suspended despite testing positive but was stripped of the Indian Wells Masters’ ranking points and prize money.

The ITIA revealed on Tuesday (August 20) that Sinner tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid, clostebol, twice in March this year. Following the investigation, Sinner told the ITIA that the banned substance accidentally entered into his system.

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On the other hand, Moore was provisionally banned in May 2022 after she tested positive for nandrolone metabolism and boldenone while competing at a WTA event in Bogota. The British player ban was lifted in December 2023 after an independent panel ruled that contamination was the source of the failed test.

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However, two months after the ban, Moore revealed that she didn’t intentionally take the banned substance, but she was not heard despite her plea. In Sinner’s case, the ITIA didn’t make their inquiry public and never banned him from any event. Moore slammed the ITIA for protecting top players.

I guess only the top players images matter. I guess only the independent tribunal’s opinion on the top players is taken as sound and right. Yet they question them in my case. Just makes no sense.
Tara Moore wrote on X

While Moore was banned for 19 months from competing professionally, Sinner was only stripped of 400 points and $320,000 of prize money. The partiality in this case is one of many that has proven how much the tennis body always protects top-ranked players.

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Denis Shapovalov and Jannik Sinner

Tara Moore struggling with funds despite her return to the sport in April after two-year absence

Tara Moore made her return to the court after a two-year absence from the sport in April. The 32-year-old doping ban was overturned in December last year but struggled with funds. Currently unranked, early this year she set up a fundraising page to help raise money for food, travel, and other expenses.

Tara Moore
Tara Moore (via Imago)

Her first tournament was at the ITF World Tour on the Italian Island of Sardina. She paired with fellow British player Annali Olivelle in the doubles category and won their opening match.

They went on to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament. She was handed a doubles wildcard at the Birmingham Open and Wimbledon but failed to win a match alongside her partner Sarah Beth Grey.

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