Nick Kyrgios not impressed by Jannik Sinner’s failed drug test ruling
The shockwaves from Jannik Sinner’s two failed drug tests will continue to rock tennis and it hasn’t taken long for the always-controversial Nick Kyrgios to wade into the debate.
World No 1 Sinner has been absolved of fault or negligence for two anti-doping failures in March after the Italian twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol, an anabolic agent that can aid muscle growth.
Despite the adverse finding, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had accidentally entered his system via a product one of his team had used to treat a small wound.
Karen Moorhouse, ITIA CEO, said: “We take any positive test extremely seriously and will always apply the rigorous processes set out by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency).
“The ITIA carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the positive tests with which Mr Sinner and his representatives fully co-operated.
“Following that investigation, the ITIA accepted the player’s explanation as to the source of the clostebol and that the presence of the substance was not intentional. This was also accepted by the tribunal.”
Sinner also gave his verdict on the decision, as he insisted his focus was now on moving forward with his career after an incident that must have weighed heavily on his mind.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” said the reigning Australian Open champion.
“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
This would appear to be the end of this story, but the discussion around it is certain to be the big talking point ahead of the US Open, which gets underway on Monday.
Jannik Sinner News
Jannik Sinner’s two failed drug tests will rock tennis – what comes next?
What is clostebol? The drug world No 1 Jannik Sinner tested positive for in doping sanction
It didn’t take long for 2022 Wimbledon finalists Kyrgios to get in quickly on the story, as he appeared to question the outcome and suggested Sinner should have been banned from tennis.
“Ridiculous,” declared Kyrgios on his X account. “Whether it was accidental or planned.
“You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. yeah nice.”
Canada’s former top 10 star Denis Shapovalov also offered up a less than complimentary view of Sinner’s case as he said on X: “Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now. Different rules for different players.”
British tennis star Liam Broady gave his view that Sinner had been given preferential treatment in the speed of his verdict, as he offered up this comment on X: “Whether Sinner was doping or not. This is not right. Plenty of players go through the same thing and have to wait months or YEARS for their innocence to be declared. Not a good look.”
It has emerged that Sinner entered the Madrid Masters tournament in May at a time when he was provisionally banned over his failed drug tests and he even staged a press conference while he was suspended from tennis.
That was before his successful appeal against the ban allowed him to play in Madrid, with the media in the dark over the huge story that was breaking around Sinner at the time.
While the world No 1 appears set to have reached the end of the process with the ITIA, Sinner is certain to face plenty of questions over this story when he meets the media for the first time ahead of next week’s US Open.
