Nick Kyrgios is not done with shading Jannik Sinner as the Australian tennis star has taken another dig at the Italian’s doping case, this time sarcastically describing him as “the victim.”
For a month now, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist has been going hard at the doping situation that rocked the entire tennis community. Since slamming the handling of the case as “ridiculous” on Day 1 and instantly calling for a suspension of the current world No. 1, the Australian has been the most vocal critic and pleaded numerous arguments on why he feels that way.
Now in the latest development, the Kyrgios reacted to a post that showed Sinner attending a Gucci event.
“Let’s just pretend the failed drug tests never happened and business as usual?” one person wrote on X when responding to the Italian being a guest at a fashion show.
The seven-time ATP champion noticed the post and wrote: “Yeah of course – nothing happened bro (laughing emoji) he is the victim.”
Kyrgios didn’t really buy Sinner’s explanation
In March, the 23-year-old twice tested positive for the banned steroid Clostebol. But after being notified about it and quickly discovering what exactly led to a prohibited substance ending up in his system, they returned the information to the doping authorities and he was allowed to continue playing despite the investigation being ongoing against him.
In a statement released, it was said that Sinner’s physio Giacomo Naldi used over-the-counter spray to treat a wound on the 2024 Australian Open champion’s leg. And since the Italian nor his team were aware that it was a contaminated product, he was given a break.
Later, the ITIA investigation cleared the world No. 1 of any wrongdoing as he “bore no fault or negligence” for what happened. Some accepted the explanation but not Kyrgios.
“I think I stand by every word. Everything I put on social media I have to stand up for. I’ve seen many of my friends go through doping things and being suspended. We’ve seen players like Halep and everyone and it seems like every time one of these things comes up, there’s always a different process for different players,” the Australian said on ESPN during the US Open.
“It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. I know how important he is. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now… And how important he’s gonna be for the next 15 years. I’m not denying any of that. Nothing against him personally. If you look at Jenson Brooksby… Players who’ve had their careers taken away for up to a year… And someone like Sinner just kind of doing it his own kind of way. I think he had it on his own terms for most of the time. I don’t think that’s fair and equal for the rest of the tour.”
Kyrgios had questions about the entire physio situation
After the news dropped and Naldi’s part was revealed, he took the heat and some thought he was solely to blame for what happened.
“Every physio that’s employed by a player, as well as every player, we get sent a prohibited substance list every year. On page 5, it says ‘Prohibited at all times’. If there’s a clearing we need to get a definition of what ‘Prohibited at all times’ means. I’m pretty sure that means no matter what amount or if it comes up or if it shows up… that means you tested positive,” Kyrgios explained.
“I guess there’s a grey area in what ‘Prohibited at all times’ means. Why is his team carrying a banned substance that we know is completely not necessary in the sport is another question itself. Guys like Alcaraz have been asked and kind of stayed neutral on it. But at the same time there’s a lot of things I think and details we have been told as well.”
Following the backlash that Naldi received, Sinner decided to part ways with the physio. Commenting on it, the 23-year-old said that the trust was broken and that he didn’t feel safe to continue their partnership.
Despite all the negative attention that the doping situation brought on his back, the Italian was still able to put up a huge run at the US Open and win his second Grand Slam title.
In his post-final presser, Sinner gave a politically correct answer as he repeated that he considered himself innocent before adding that everyone else was entitled to their opinion.
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