WADA forced to change policies after Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s doping cases cause massive controversy
WADA is reportedly set to change its policies after Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner avoided a ban despite failing dope tests.
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Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek (Images via X)
The Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek doping causes caused quite a stir in the tennis world. They were criticized for avoiding a lengthy ban, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) was accused of double standards.
Sinner tested positive for clostebol twice while Swiatek had trimetazidine in her sample. They both served their respective mandatory suspension, but the Pole was banned for three weeks, missing three tournaments on the Asian swing.
The month was March when Sinner failed the drug test. It was the same March when Simona Halep made her comeback after serving a nine-month ban for failing a dope test.
She was a victim of accidental contamination as the banned substance roxadustat was found in her sample. And for this, the ITIA had initially handed her a four-year ban before it was reduced to nine months following her appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Halep’s case was just an example of how innocent players in different sports had to waste their time on the sidelines. In Swiatek and Sinner’s cases, a small amount of the drugs were present in their body. Now reports have emerged that this controversy has forced the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to make a change in their policies.
As per reports, the Executive Committee of the WADA met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for policy changes which will come into force on January 27, 2027. The reports claimed if a tiny amount of the substance contaminates the players, WADA won’t punish them. The policy changes won’t affect WADA’s appeal before the CAS to demand a ban on Sinner as the hearing is in February next year.
Nikolay Davydenko backs Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek amid doping scandal
Former World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko rubbished claims of Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner becoming World No. 1 players because of doping. Swiatek, who now is a No.2 player, was at the top of the rankings when she failed the test.
Davydenko lauded Sinner for his tactics on the court this season. Even though his colleagues are accusing the Italian of winning due to doping, Davydenko said consuming a pill doesn’t make anyone a better player.
I will not shout to the press that he is bad, but I will admit my guilt and my mistake as a coach. You go to the pharmacy; you buy a pill for your bronchial pain and there’s salbutamol, which is considered doping. You always have to be in contact with a sports doctor. It’s rubbish. You’re not going to become a better player because of a pill.
Nikolay Davydenko said on Match TV
The Russian then went on to censure the anti-doping bodies for tightening the control so much because ‘there’s no result’ when someone gets contaminated.
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Gouri Das
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