Leading tennis voice says Jannik Sinner’s achievements will be ‘tainted’ if drug ban is confirmed
Jannik Sinner is heading into 2025 with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over him and now a leading tennis voice has suggested his stunning achievements over the last year will be ‘tainted’ if he is forced to serve a ban in the coming months.
World No 1 Sinner tested positive in two drug tests in March, but was cleared of wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and allowed to continue his career without serving a suspension.
Yet the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed against that judgment and is calling for a one to two-year back for the Italian, with the case expected to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the first half of 2025.
Remarkably, Sinner has managed to block out the chaos that engulfed him around the failed drug tests and won over $20milllion in prize money since March, with $7.5million of that coming in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
He also won the US Open and ATP Finals as he finished the year as a dominant world No 1, but Sky Sports’ lead commentator Jonathan Overend has suggested his incredible achievements 2024 will be remembered in a shaded light if the WADA appeal goes against him.
Many experts are expecting Sinner to be handed a suspension from tennis and Overend told Sky Sports that he has been ‘uncomfortable’ watching the Italian piece together such an amazing year after the controversy over his failed doping tests.
“I think it really important to bring this up and to say that at times, it hasn’t felt totally comfortable watching Jannik Sinner achieve what he has done this year,” said Overend.
“We have enjoyed the tennis, of course we have, but you look at all the achievements and you have to think to yourself… this is a guy who has failed two drug tests.
“In another world, in another sport, he may have been serving a ban so he would not have been able to win those trophies.
“It may be next year that he does have to serve a ban because WADA think he should be banned and it is in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Their final judgement will have to be respected. If he does get banned, it’s not a good look for tennis. How they respond to that, I’m not sure.
“Sinner will deal with it, serve his time if he has to, but it will taint his achievements for this year, there is no doubt about that.”
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Former British No 1 Laura Robson also contributed to the debate on Sky Sports, as she highlighted her admiration for Sinner’s ability to block out the failed drug tests and continue to dominate the men’s tour.
“He has such an ability to compartmentalise,” said Robson. “How you can go on court with all of that hanging over your head and the timing of it as well?
“He played all of the summer and this was the biggest secret in tennis. No one knew about it and it came out on the eve of the US Open after he just won Cincinnati. Then everyone for the first few days of a Grand Slam is talking about how he failed a test.
“It changes things in the locker room and you feel like people will think of you differently. I would find that very tough. Thinking my integrity would be questioned. So I imagine it has been a tricky few months for him.”
The WADA appeal that will seek to impose a one to two year suspension on Sinner is expected to be heard before the French Open, but any suspension certain to limited his ambitions in this year’s Grand Slam tourmaments.
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