"We’ve never seen this before" – Alex De Minaur reacts to Jannik Sinner’s doping sanction

Alex de Minaur was the latest player to share his thoughts on the sanction Jannik Sinner received after his controversial doping case. The Italian reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency and recently accepted a three-month suspension, avoiding a trial that could have led to a longer ban of one to two years.

Sinner tested positive for Clostebol nearly a year ago at Indian Wells, in a case that remained out of the public eye for months. Although the ITIA determined that the world No. 1 would not be suspended due to a lack of "negligence or fault," WADA had filed an appeal seeking a harsher punishment.

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“A million miles away from doping”: WADA defends Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension

Following De Minaur’s quarterfinal loss at the Qatar Open—1-6, 6-3, 6-7(8)—against Andrey Rublev, the Australian took time in a interview with BB Tennis to comment on Sinner’s sanction when asked whether he felt there was preferential treatment.

"It’s tough because we have seen something which has never happened. In the past, it has always been a year or two years. It has always been much larger," the world No. 8 said. "It is something we have never seen, and I guess if someone else, or the next person, is in a similar position, I hope we see the same option being allowed."

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"Three-month ban was appropriate": WADA 'pleased' with handling of Jannik Sinner doping case

Other cases of tennis players who received lengthy suspensions for unintentional doping violations include Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Nicolas Jarry, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Dan Evans, among others. However, official institutions have insisted that Sinner did not receive special treatment, emphasizing that each case must be evaluated individually.

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