"This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year": Jannik Sinner's first comments after reaching deal with WADA for three-month ban following failed doping tests

World number one Jannik Sinner has admitted a sigh of relief after his doping case has finally come to a conclusion. The 23-year-old is regarded as the best player currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category and has won the last two Grand Slams.

Despite all these achievements, Sinner’s name has been in the news for the wrong reasons, as he tested positive in two doping cases last year. Interestingly, he managed to escape a ban as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), in a detailed verdict last year, announced that they found the player innocent in the case. The player’s counsel claimed that the availability of the substance in the player’s sample was because of receiving a cream for the treatment of an injury from one coaching staff member.

The case, however, did not end there as later in the year, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lodged an appeal against the verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded a two-year ban for the player. The case finally came to a close on Saturday as it was announced that both WADA and Sinner had reached an agreement that the player will be out of action for three months, meaning that he will be eligible to play in all the remaining three major events this year.

Sinner has been quoted in a report by English media outlet The Independent where he explained the reason behind accepting the offer from WADA. The world number one also highlighted how the case remained a big obstacle in his performance over the last year.

“This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” said Sinner. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise Wada’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted Wada’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”