"We need to get to one final conclusion": Jannik Sinner awaits doping case verdict as Tim Henman voices concern
ATP
Jannik Sinner is expecting a resolution to his doping case within the next two weeks, and Tim Henman has shared his opinion on the matter. The world No. 1 tested positive for Clostebol in two separate doping tests, but he avoided suspension after the ITIA investigation ruled out fault or negligence on his part.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the case, seeking a one- to two-year suspension for the three-time Grand Slam champion. The case will be heard in court on April 16-17.
There is a real possibility that the Italian could face a ban, though nothing is certain yet. Former world No. 4 Tim Henman suggested that tennis's reputation has taken a hit, considering several high-profile doping cases in recent years, including those of Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep.
“It hasn’t been a good look for the sport, especially when you throw in the Swiatek and Halep cases,” said Sky Sports Tennis analyst Henman. “There is this legal process, but it’s frustrating for the sport and the fans that this process started last year and we are going to get a decision in April. That’s too long.”
“Personally, in all those cases, I don’t think in any way that the players are trying to cheat. However, we have to get to the outcome quicker than that,” he added. “I’m amazed that Sinner has been able to play such good tennis with that cloud over his head. What the outcome is going to be, I don’t know. We need to get to one final conclusion ASAP.”
According to a Tennis365 report, ITIA Chief Executive Karen Moorhouse has confirmed that there is a clear possibility of Sinner receiving at least a one-year ban if the ruling goes against him. “If you test positive for a banned substance, your starting point for a possible sanction is four years,” Moorhouse explained.
“If you can demonstrate that it was not intentional, that reduces to two years. Then, if you can prove there was no fault, there is no sanction. In addition, a decision of ‘no significant fault or negligence’ could fall between a reprimand and two years. That applies to any cases around a contaminated substance.”
“It’s the same rules and the same processes for every player. All cases are different and each case turns on individual facts,” she added. “The complication with the Sinner case is the positive test was not a result of a contaminated product. That is the difference between Swiatek and Halep. There is no contamination here."
“The product that the masseuse used on his finger was not contaminated. That is exactly what it said the product contained on the packaging,” Moorhouse stated. “And so because it is not a contaminated product, the range for a sanction is one year to two years.”
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mandoist04-02-2025 - It sounds seriously absurd that in Davis Cup, (unlike Grand Slams such as the Aus Open), medical time outs off court with the medical staff are not allowed?? I mean, if this was an Aus Open match, and the same thing happened to Gurin then, he would have been able to go off court for official medical time out and make an informed decision whether to resume the match or retire. How come such conditions do not apply in Davis Cup?? I mean, there with Davis Cup, it is even more like a soccer match or basketball game in that teams are playing. And so as with those, it ought to be the case in tennis that if a player needs serious medical time out, then one of the other team mates ought to substitute and each team needs to have stand-ins or understudies in case substitution is needed which will be rare but as we can see here, this kind of circumstance fits. But even if the teams do not go down the road of subbing other team mates in, in case of a health issue like the one which played out here, at least, as in the Aus Open and other Grand Slams, there ought to be time-outs with the health professionals and at the conclusion of these time-outs, the particular decision that has been reached between them and the player needs to be taken on board by the umpire. PERIOD.
Sueiyin04-02-2025 - "If Novak did this, he would be defaulted for life. WTF." 🤣 WTF sounds like What Tennis Fury?! What Tennis Flurry??! I mean, se-rious-ly, it was actually the unfairness of the silly umpire's decision that is the issue here! Further, how come it was Gurin & his team who got disqualified? If this kind of thing happens in soccer, it would be the other guy getting the yellow or red card! Because after all, it was the Belgian who's foul it was so why then penalize the opponents for something they didn't instigate? Fouls in both basketball and soccer are read as a hinderance that has been caused by the player who INITIALLY instigated the hinderance. In this case, okay, it is tennis, but while the precise rules are different to either soccer or basketball, the same type of recognition as to whoever instigates a hinderance should apply, and in this case, it was the Belgian player.Sueiyin04-02-2025
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- Ha-ha-ha... Translation: I'll help as long as I don't have to meet in person and endure the ongoing BS"mandoist03-02-2025
- Well said.mandoist03-02-2025
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- Typical narcissistic cynicism of Kyrgios! Very rarely has a decent word to say about anything. He's abusive, jeeringly loud and obnoxious. He needs to be officially called out by both the ATP and ITF for using foul language in public spaces such as social media. The guy's a vampiric hoon who sucks the lifeblood out of tennis by trying to bolster popularity of the good-for-nothing bad boy image. I once admired Kyrgios for his previous good-willed willingness to get honest help for his mental health issues but that all went down the drain once he figured he could reel money in through publicity stunts using the negativity of his problems in such a way as to declare them 'no longer problems' but something which he could become more entangled in just to boost an anti-hero image. Shame on him for turning his back on common human decency and good-willed fraternity. Instead he opts to make a 'hero' out of villany. I'm sorry Nick but u are only doing more harm to yourself in the long run by trying to serve up a bad name for the sport you claim to so proudly represent. Get real mate, tennis is not for hoons, neither is hoon-behaviour the hallmark of sporting integrity. It's an utter disgrace!Sueiyin02-02-2025
