‘I don’t believe Jannik Sinner is an idiot’ – Andy Roddick shares honest opinion on anti-doping appeal

Ewan West
Andy Roddick has discussed WADA's appeal in Jannik Sinner anti-doping case
Andy Roddick has discussed WADA's appeal in Jannik Sinner anti-doping case

Andy Roddick has defended Jannik Sinner after the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal over the world No 1’s failed drug tests. 

The 2003 US Open winner does not think Sinner would intentionally take a substance to enhance his performance as he does not believe the Italian is “an idiot.”

Last month, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced Sinner had avoided a ban for failing two drug tests in March after an independent tribunal ruled he was not to blame.

The Italian star tested positive for low levels of clostebol, an anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.

The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned 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 revealed on Saturday that WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on Sinner.

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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 the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick weighed in on WADA’s decision to appeal and highlighted the impact it could have on Sinner’s off-season training.

“If it comes down the day after Christmas or sometime around then, he’s already gotten his training in for Australia, so that’s locked in,” said the former world No 1. “He’s already spent three weeks of his life being a psychopath about fitness, about everything else.

“That lands, if it’s three months, he misses one, if it’s six months, he misses two, if it’s nine months, he misses three Slams. That is a massive thing for someone who is currently in their prime or at least building towards the last five percent of their prime.

“[That is] all that matters. And he has to mentally to go through the hard yards of an off-season, he has to do it if he doesn’t know what the answer is going to be. Because there’s a chance that he gets to play in Australia.

“I think, if they’re saying a year, it’s going to be like a six-month situation. At the [US] Open, when this came up, I said I wouldn’t have blinked at a six-month suspension, I would have had a lot of sympathy and empathy for their team, for Jannik.

“I don’t believe he is an idiot, I don’t think he is consciously going to do something that does enhance performance to risk legacy, reputation, time, chance at Slams, etc. I feel badly for Jannik.”

Italian newspaper la Repubblica has reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling on the appeal will “probably” arrive in February 2025.

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