World No. 14 tennis player, Ben Shelton, has publicly expressed his relief over the resolution of the doping case involving the world No. 1, Jannik Sinner. While the tennis world has been rife with speculation and opinions, Shelton has maintained a simple stance. He believes it’s time to leave the matter behind, as the case has officially been settled.
For months, the tennis fraternity was on edge, waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing involving the Italian tennis sensation, Sinner. A sigh of relief swept across when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the world No. 1 reached a mutually agreed settlement, imposing a three-month ban on Sinner 10 days ago.
Nevertheless, this resolution hasn’t satisfied all. Critics argue that the ban, which began in February and ends on May 4th, conveniently allows the reigning Australian Open champion to participate in the upcoming Rome Masters and the French Open. Despite these murmurings, a significant segment of the tennis community, including players and notable figures, maintain that Sinner’s suspension was unwarranted in the first place.
Ben Shelton, while addressing Bounces, expressed his desire to move past this controversy. He stated, “Settlement’s over. Case is over. I’m just glad that we can play now, move on.” He added, “My thoughts are my thoughts, but I’m ready to start playing and stop talking about it. A lot of people want to talk, and I’m honestly just here to play.”
The case took an interesting turn when WADA decided not to challenge the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) ruling that Sinner had neither knowingly nor intentionally consumed a prohibited substance. However, WADA insisted that some form of penalty was necessary, attributing the infringement to a grave error on the part of Sinner’s former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi.
In a public statement, Sinner admitted to the weight of the case, which had been looming over him for nearly a year. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love,” stated Sinner. He concluded, “On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a 3-month sanction.” As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how this event will influence the dynamic tennis landscape.