The world of tennis faced a shockwave when Juan Martin del Potro, the Argentine tennis star, voiced his thoughts on the handling of Jannik Sinner’s doping case, terming it as “strange.” Del Potro refrained from pointing fingers at Sinner, but his observations about the process have sparked a conversation.
Sinner, the reigning world No. 1, was in the spotlight after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that he failed two doping tests in March. However, he escaped suspension as the investigation concluded that the fault lay with his physio, who was held responsible for a banned substance entering the Italian’s system.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), though, did not accept this verdict and appealed for a 1-2 year ban on Sinner. Instead of a face-off in a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) courtroom, a settlement was reached, resulting in a three-month ban for the victor of the Australian Open.
The three-month ban, which commenced on February 9th and concludes on May 4th, enables Sinner to participate in the Rome Masters and the French Open. However, the handling of the case drew criticism from various quarters, with some even suggesting favoritism towards Sinner.
Del Potro, while avoiding indulgence in speculative theories, was unequivocal in his belief that the affair was poorly managed. Speaking in Rio de Janeiro, the former US Open champion stated, “I can tell you that the whole situation seems strange to me.”
He pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline, with Sinner testing positive twice before the US Open, and the case being made public without any sanctions. Del Potro questioned the silence maintained by those in the know for months and the decision to announce it before the US Open despite the case’s closure.
Del Potro expressed his confusion over the roles of the physio and the cream in the incident but refrained from declaring Sinner innocent or guilty. His main concern was the blow to credibility experienced by all parties involved— the ATP, anti-doping systems, Sinner’s reputation, and the fans — leaving no one in a positive light.
While the buzz around the Sinner case is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon, the only consolation for the Italian player is the elimination of uncertainty surrounding his situation. However, the tennis world may take a while to recover from this ordeal.
