Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, is under a cloud of controversy due to a doping scandal that has dominated the headlines since its onset. Sinner’s second consecutive victory at the Australian Open in 2025 was quickly overshadowed by his doping saga, which started almost a year prior. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that Sinner accepted a three-month ban before the French Open, a move that has sparked intense debate within the tennis world.
Notable figures like Stan Wawrinka have voiced their doubts about the transparency of the sport, with Wawrinka stating he no longer “believes in a clear sport anymore.” Others believe Sinner’s punishment was too lenient. However, Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, defends Sinner and criticizes his critics.
Toni Nadal, a respected figure in the tennis community, shared his thoughts on Sinner’s case with Spanish publication Marca. He expressed his disagreement with the three-month ban that Sinner received after testing positive twice for a prohibited anabolic substance back in March 2024. He argued that Sinner had no intention of committing a crime and that it was wrong to treat someone so harshly for a mistake that happened by accident.
He further pointed out that Sinner did not intentionally misuse the substance for personal gain. Nadal’s argument is supported by the fact that the quantity of the substance found in Sinner’s system was negligible. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially determined that Sinner was not at fault due to the accidental nature of the contamination.
The contamination is believed to have occurred when Sinner’s former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, used a ‘Trofodermin’ spray to treat a cut on his hand before giving Sinner a massage without gloves, unintentionally transferring the substance to him. The ITIA investigation revealed that the amount of the substance in Sinner’s system was incredibly small. Sinner humorously used eight fingers to indicate the number of zeroes before the “1” in the amount, .000000001, at the US Open last year.
Toni Nadal’s defense of Sinner is not isolated. Even Rafael Nadal has supported Sinner amidst the controversy. Rafael Nadal expressed his trust in the ITIA’s decision in an interview with El Hormiguero in September 2024. He asserted that if Sinner has not been sanctioned, it is because those who judged this case have clearly seen that what happened was not punishable.
However, the controversy persists, with Sinner agreeing to a three-month ban from February 9 to May 4, 2025, following a settlement with WADA. This has raised questions about the impact on his career. The ban will end just before the start of the Italian Open on May 7th, and all eyes will be on Sinner as he returns to his home event.
The doping scandal surrounding Sinner has been a whirlwind, with some questioning the fairness of the system. Despite this, supporters like the Nadals firmly believe in Sinner’s innocence given the accidental nature of the contamination. The anticipation is high as Sinner prepares to return to the court. Will he bounce back stronger than ever, or will the controversy continue to shadow him? Only time will tell.
