Former doubles world No 1 Nicolas Mahut believes “negligence” caused Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests and argued this “would never have happened” to Novak Djokovic.
The Frenchman does not think Sinner tried to cheat, but described the communication within the the Italian’s team that led to the error as “very poor.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed last month that Sinner would not receive a ban for failing two anti-doping in March after an independent tribunal ruled he was not to blame.
The Italian tested positive for low levels of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.
The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his physio, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on their finger.
However, it was announced last week that WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the world No 1.
A statement from WADA said: “It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules.
“WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.”
Speaking on Eurosport, Mahut weighed in on Sinner’s case and claimed Djokovic‘s team would not have allowed such a mistake to happen.
“If you ask me, I think he didn’t try to cheat. Yes, there was negligence. But I think what happened to him would never have happened to Novak Djokovic,” said Mahut.
“Let me explain. A doubles player (Marco Bortolotti) found himself in the same situation as Sinner. He appealed, he was not suspended and he was cleared. The product is an over-the-counter product in Italy. So his team is aware of it.
“Sinner should have been informed that there was a product of this type in his entourage and if he used it, the physiotherapist should have washed his hands and put on gloves.
“And in my opinion, it would never have happened to a player like Novak because he would have been informed. There was negligence on the part of Sinner’s team. Internal communication, within his team, was very poor.
“There was a lack of attention because other players tested positive for this product and today he finds himself in this situation. It is possible that he is innocent but suspended for negligence.”
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