Retired American tennis superstar, Steve Johnson, has voiced his skepticism about the recent doping ban verdict on current world No. 1, Jannik Sinner. In the light of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) striking a deal with Sinner, Johnson finds the arrangements rather suspicious.
WADA had initially appealed the ITIA’s verdict and was looking at imposing a suspension of one to two years on the 23-year-old tennis sensation. However, the scenario took a twist as Sinner agreed to a three-month ban, a decision expected to be contested in a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing scheduled for mid-April.
Johnson’s suspicions were further fueled by the timing of the ban’s conclusion. The embargo is set to lift on May 4th, a mere three days ahead of the Rome Masters start date. Furthermore, it’s a strategic three weeks prior to the French Open, positioning Sinner to participate in both events.
Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam victor, will have to forego four Masters tournaments due to his suspension. However, he will be able to compete in his home Masters event and will not miss any of the Majors.
Speaking on the Nothing Major Podcast, Johnson shared his views, “The entire situation reeks of suspicion to me. I’m not here to argue about innocence or guilt, but the ban’s timing and its implications seem questionable. It’s odd that he’s suspended for exactly three months, and yet, misses no significant tournaments. Just in time to compete in the Rome Masters and doesn’t miss any of the Slams. There’s something about this that doesn’t quite add up to me. But that’s purely my viewpoint.”
The controversial ruling has sparked widespread debate about Sinner receiving preferential treatment. The intensity of the conversation prompted a WADA official to publicly deny any favoritism on their part. Despite this, the murmurs of a ‘favorable deal’ persist in the tennis community, casting a shadow over the integrity of the sport.
