Roger Federer weighs in on Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests as he raises ‘inconsistency’ question
Roger Federer has discussed Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests for the first time and revealed he trusts that the Italian star did not do anything wrong.
The former world No 1 asserted, though, that the potential “inconsistency” of Sinner not missing any action after the initial suspension is “the question here that needs to be answered.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced last month that Sinner had avoided a ban for failing two anti-doping 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 swiftly 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.”
Jannik Sinner News
Rafael Nadal makes his first comments on Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests
Prior to the 2024 US Open, Sinner parted ways with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara and admitted the decision was due to the pair making the mistakes that had resulted in the positive tests.
Speaking on the Today programme, Federer expressed his understanding for the frustration of those who have claimed Sinner received preferential treatment.
“It’s not something we want to see in our sport, these types of news, regardless if he did something or not, or any player did,” said the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
“I understand it’s a tricky situation. It’s the nightmare of every athlete and team to have these allegations and these problems because we fill out these forms all day every day.
“And it lives with you. Every morning when you wake up, you think, ‘Is somebody at the door coming to test me?’ So it’s really difficult.
“I understand the frustration of, ‘Has he been treated the same as others?’ And I think this is where it comes down to.
“I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 percent sure what was going on, I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered.
“But look, it is what it is, and we need to trust the process as well of anyone involved here.”
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