"They can’t sit isolated and eat organic bananas all day”: Holger Rune’s mother calls for changes in anti-doping policies after Sinner’s doping case.
ATP
Holger Rune's mother, Aneke Rune, recently commented on Jannik Sinner's case and the growing concerns players now have about the potential risks of contamination. The Danish woman called for changes in the ITIA and WADA for cases involving minimal contamination, like that of the Italian player.
Recall that World No. 1 Sinner suffered Clostebol contamination indirectly after his physiotherapist applied a spray to treat his own hand injuries. When treating Sinner without gloves, a minuscule trace of the banned substance, less than a millionth of a gram, was transferred to the Italian.
Sinner recently accepted a three-month suspension in agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), avoiding a court trial that could have led to a suspension of one to two years if found guilty by an independent tribunal.
The case has dominated the tennis world for months, with many criticizing the process – including Nick Kyrgios – for allegedly giving Sinner preferential treatment. As Sinner’s nightmare draws to an end while he serves his suspension, the procedures are still under scrutiny, with questions about their transparency and fairness.
In a recent interview with the Danish website Ekstra Bladet, Holger Rune’s mother and agent, Aneke, shared her opinion on the Sinner case: “If you read a little about clostebol, you can see how frighteningly easy it can be transferred to other people if it has been used by a third party,” she said. “That, I think, is almost the scariest thing about this case. Think about how many fans you give high fives to, surfaces you touch, etc.”
“Otherwise the players will become neurotic. Now clostebol is a prescription drug in most countries, and there is therefore little risk of transmission. But not in Italy. It should be as a consequence of all the cases they have had, to protect their athletes,” she added. “But there may be other substances that are also easily transmitted, and therefore it is important to look at the lower limit values, so that the athletes do not end up isolating themselves completely.”
According to Aneke Rune, certain cases need to be reviewed by the ITIA for the future: “I read about an athlete recently where they had found traces of something that occurs in strong alcohol, but which in isolation can be performance-enhancing. There are also steaks where the cow has eaten steroids, which show up in tests - this is also a problem that several athletes have run into.”
“They can't sit isolated from all the people and eat organic bananas all day for fear of a test showing 0.00000000001 trace of something.”
“I personally think that three months and a year of processing time is too long. I don't know the details of the individual case enough to say whether it is reasonable. That is WADA's (World Anti-Doping Agency, ed.) board.”
“As I read it, I think most of the athletes' criticism is that there are such different guidelines in individual cases where there are obvious accidents and not intentional doping.”
“But I also think that this is one of the areas, like the limit values, that WADA and ITIA must look at after the recent cases; that for example, it must not take more than a maximum of x number of days to confirm whether there is poisoning or not, so that the athletes can quickly resume their careers and not sit out for a year because some office people mess around with some analyses with 0.000000001 mg.”
Point. Of. The. Tournament.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2025
Take a bow, @janniksin and @holgerrune2003!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/G2egQuhOuZ
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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