A million miles from doping – WADA defends Jannik Sinner three-month ban

The sanction has been questioned and criticised by current and former players.

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open — WADA’s general counsel believes Jannik Sinner’s sanction level was “in the right place” for what had occurred (Manish Swarup/AP)

The World Anti-Doping Agency has defended the three-month ban agreed for world number one Jannik Sinner, insisting his case was “a million miles from doping”.

Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March last year, and after the International Tennis Integrity Agency decided not to suspend the Italian, WADA announced it had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and was seeking a two-year ban.

However, WADA announced last Saturday it had agreed an immediate three-month ban.

Jannik Sinner pictured in action at the 2024 All England Championships at Wimbledon — Sinner’s ban leaves him free to compete at this summer’s French Open (Zac Goodwin/PA)

The sanction has been questioned and criticised by current and former players, including Novak Djokovic and former British number one Tim Henman.

However, WADA’s general counsel Ross Wenzel believes the sanction level was “in the right place” for what had occurred.

“This was a case that was a million miles away from doping,” he told BBC Sport.

“The scientific feedback that we received was that this could not be a case of intentional doping, including micro-dosing.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts at a press conference after retiring in his Australian Open semi-final last month — Novak Djokovic says the “majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening” (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP)

“WADA has received messages from those that consider that the sanction was too high and, in some respects, if you have some saying this is unfair on the athlete, and others saying it’s not enough, maybe it’s an indication that although it’s not going to be popular with everyone, maybe it’s an indication that it was in the right place.

“When we look at these cases we try to look at them technically, operationally and we don’t do it with fear of what the public and the politicians or anyone is going to say.”

Sinner’s suspension runs from February 9 to May 4, leaving him clear to play in the rest of this year’s grand slams, starting with the French Open.

Speaking at the Qatar Open on Monday, 24-time grand slam champion Djokovic said the “majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening”, while Henman on Saturday told Sky Sports News he found the timing and length of Sinner’s ban “a little too convenient”.