Jannik Sinner‘s doping controversy has again transformed into a mainstream trend in the world of tennis. The post-victory period after the US Open title doesn’t really seem to be working in Sinner’s favor, with WADA appealing against the verdict of the Independent Tribunal that let Sinner off without a ban. While several members of the tennis community stepped forward to bash Sinner after the news of his failed dope tests surfaced, his rival on the court, Carlos Alcaraz, proved how friendship could find existence even amidst staggering levels of competition.
Carlos Alcaraz recently extended strong support for Jannik Sinner as the Italian tennis star faced a challenging moment in his career. Although Sinner was previously cleared by an independent tribunal after testing positive for a banned substance, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) has decided to appeal that ruling. Speaking during the China Open where he is preparing for his quarterfinal match against Karen Khachanov, Alcaraz empathized with his close competitor and friend and expressed how tough this period has been for Sinner.
“It’s really sensitive things to Jannik and tennis in general. After everything was decided before Cincinnati, with the ITIA saying Jannik didn’t do anything wrong, and now it’s open again, it’s hard to understand,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz acknowledged the strain this controversy has placed on Sinner. “Probably, as he said before New York, the people started to look at him in a different way. I don’t know how it can be, but for sure I understand the position. I feel him,” the Spaniard said. Alcaraz continued by praising Sinner’s performance on the court, despite the immense pressure. “The game and the level that he’s playing with everything he’s been through right now, it’s insane. He’s able to put all the things aside when he steps on the court, playing good tennis. It’s unbelievable,” he added.
Sinner himself has expressed his surprise and disappointment over WADA’s appeal. He was cleared of any wrongdoing after multiple hearings found him to have no fault or negligence. “Obviously, I’m very disappointed and also surprised by this appeal because we had three hearings. All three hearings came out very positively for me,” Sinner said. He got to know about WADA’s decision just days before it became public. “I knew a couple of days ago that they were going to appeal, and today it’s gone official,” the Italian added.
WADA argues that the initial ruling to clear Sinner was not correct under the applicable rules. The appeal has now taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where the final decision will be made. Besides Alcaraz, Sinner has many other supporters in the tennis community who think that the case should end up in the Italian’s favor.
Andy Murray’s former coach backs Jannik Sinner against WADA’s appeal
Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Jannik Sinner’s doping case. He firmly stated that there is no scandal involved. After the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the decision that cleared Sinner of wrongdoing, Petchey took to X to make his stand clear. “Just for the record, there is ZERO scandal in the Sinner case,” Petchey wrote. He highlighted that Sinner and his legal team worked within the boundaries of the rules and presented evidence that led to his clearance. “No conspiracy, no cover-up,” Petchey mentioned further in his post on X.
Petchey also explained that WADA’s decision to appeal is part of a legal process. This happens routinely in sports law. WADA’s appeal focuses on whether the “no fault or negligence” ruling was applied correctly under the existing rules. Petchey emphasized this is how the system works. “WADA today have looked at it and decided that they want to appeal the decision based on the ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules. This is how the law works every single day,” he pointed out.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Petchey’s comments offer a voice of reason, aimed at encouraging people to avoid jumping to conclusions. His statements support the idea that Sinner’s case is not unique, and legal appeals are natural while ensuring fairness in sports law. However, the doping case still remains a mystery to be solved.
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