Jannik Sinner failed drug tests controversy: Casper Ruud issues verdict on ‘discrimination’ suggestion
Casper Ruud has weighed on Jannik Sinner’s failed anti-doping tests and addressed the notion that there could have been “discrimination” in the way the case was handled.
The world No 9 revealed he concluded Sinner had not received any preferential treatment and pointed to the fact the Italian quickly identified where the substance had come from.
Prior to the 2024 US Open, The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced 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.
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.
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Sinner has since hired Roman Panichi, who previously worked with Novak Djokovic, as his new fitness coach.
In an interview with TV2 Norway, Ruud explained he is convinced there was “no discrimination” in Sinner’s favour after familiarising himself with the case and the rules.
“I noticed at the start, before I got into the case and the sequence of events, that I also thought there were a few owls in the bog,” said the 25-year-old (translated from Norwegian).
“He is No 1 in the world, there had to be discrimination. But then I familiarised myself with the case and the rules.
“If you have read the documents and understand the process in this type of case, then you understand that there is no discrimination here.
“What Sinner has done well, in order to defend himself, is that he managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive. He understood quite quickly where it came from.
“There are not many athletes who manage to come up with an explanation within 15 days, but Jannik has managed it. It speaks in his favour that he quickly found out where the substance came from and that he has a reasonable explanation.
“This is an extremely small dose that has come through some skin rashes, as far as I understand, and I expect that there are good doctors who look at this and think that there is an explanation that can be credible.”
The Norwegian also highlighted how athletes are “vulnerable” to potentially having banned substances put in their food.
“In a restaurant, both the chef and the waiter can put things in your food, if they have something against you,” Ruud added.
“I feel it myself. I live under strict supervision, and it’s something I think about, and something I know Jannik thinks about. As a performer, you are extremely vulnerable.”
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