Jannik Sinner’s doping case continues to spark controversy, with the ITIA defending the decision not to suspend the world No. 1. The Italian tested positive twice for Clostebol back in March during Indian Wells; however, the case was kept secret until the ITIA accepted Sinner’s appeal, making it public only in mid-August, just before the US Open.
The two-time Grand Slam champion remains at the center of the controversy, as several players have criticized the decision, especially considering that in similar cases, players faced long suspensions, and the cases were made public immediately after the positive test result, as in the case of Simona Halep a few years ago.
The criticism against the ITIA was echoed on social media, with many Tour stars expressing their opinions. Sinner received support from players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, while Nick Kyrgios was the most outspoken critic.
The ITIA’s decision was recently challenged by WADA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, where they are seeking a suspension of one to two years for the Italian. A ruling is expected between January and February 2025, leaving Sinner at risk of a potential suspension.
"The process of handling anti-doping cases is complex, and we understand that it can be confusing to understand differences in outcomes or perceived inconsistencies in the process. To be absolutely clear, the process is defined by the World Anti-Doping Code, established by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme," the ITIA statement said.
"The way we handle cases does not change, regardless of the profile of the player involved. How a case unfolds is determined solely by its circumstances, facts, and science. In the Sinner case, we understand that the focus of the appeal is on the interpretation and application of the rules by the independent tribunal in determining what level, if any, of fault is applicable to the player, rather than the ITIA's investigation of the facts and science."
"That said, we recognise that it is our responsibility to work with members of the tennis family to ensure there is trust in the process, and we encourage dialogue with players, their representatives, and the media on this," the statement concluded.
🔵 L'#Itia (International Tennis Integrity Agency) difende la decisione di scagionare #Sinner sul caso #clostebol. Il Ceo dell'antidoping del tennis, Karen Moorhouse: valutazione di "circostanze, fatti e dati scientifici", indipendentemente dal "profilo del giocatore coinvolto"
