Jannik Sinner failed drug tests controversy leaves tennis legend ‘shocked’: ‘He had to bear the consequences’

Jannik Sinner failed drug tests controversy leaves tennis legend ‘shocked’: ‘He had to bear the consequences’

Jannik Sinner has been under fire
Jannik Sinner looks on during a match
Tennis great Lindsay Davenport has given her verdict on the controversy surrounding Jannik Sinner’s failed anti-doping tests and admitted she is “shocked” at how the Italian’s case was handled.

The three-time Grand Slam champion feels Sinner “had to bear the consequences” for the failed tests and argued it is not fair to other players that he was not stopped from competing.

Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the final of the 2024 US Open on Sunday to secure his second Grand Slam crown and sixth title of a brilliant 2024 season.

Prior to the New York major, The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed Sinner had avoided a ban for failing two drug tests in March as it was ruled he bore “no fault or negligence.”

Sinner tested positive for low levels of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.

The Italian received an automatic provisional suspension for each test, but he was allowed to continue playing after appealing to an independent tribunal for both instances.

Jannik Sinner News
The 8 men to win Cincinnati and US Open in same year: Jannik Sinner emulates Federer, Nadal, Djokovic

Jannik Sinner reveals how ‘best compliment’ his coach gave him about his parents ‘gave him chills’

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his system “as a result of contamination from a support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound.”

The world No 1 parted ways with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara after the news was made public. The 23-year-old admitted this decision was due to the pair making the mistakes that had resulted in the positive tests.

Davenport argued Sinner should have been suspended from competing and suggested his status and financial resources were “decisive.”

“I am honestly shocked. Like most. It seems that we are only now finding out what is happening behind the scenes,” the former world No 1 told Sport Klub.

“I don’t know how he is allowed to play all year. It’s not fair to other players, it’s obvious that not everyone is treated the same. Especially to those who are ranked lower.

“Money seems to be decisive here, because there are greater opportunities to pay lawyers and everything that is needed. The Italian had to bear the consequences.”

Several active players have been critical of the handling of Sinner’s case and have claimed the Italian has received different treatment to other players who have tested positive for banned substances.

Nick Kyrgios has been the highest profile and most outspoken detractor, with the Australian expressing doubts over Sinner’s explanation for how clostebol had entered his body.

Following his US Open triumph, Sinner discussed the reaction of his fellow players to his anti-doping case.

“The general reaction of the players was quite positive, even when things came out,” the 23-year-old told the media.

“Then there have been, of course, some different voices, but this is in everything. This is not only in tennis. This is in other sports and different jobs also.

“You can’t really do anything about that. That’s why you have the people close to you, these are the people who knows what was going on and what I and my team went through because it was not only me; it was the whole situation.

“I just can talk from my side and from my team’s perspective, and we are all very proud of this achievement.”

Novak Djokovic told he will not beat Jannik Sinner again as the Italian is compared to Mike Tyson