Daniil Medvedev believes Jannik Sinner’s ban from tennis could set a positive example for future cases as long as the same rules are applied to all players.
Sinner has been banned from the sport for three months after reaching a case resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency which had planned to take the tennis star to court. Sinner failed two anti-doping tests last year which was blamed on a spray containing the banned substance Clostebol that his former physio was using on his hands. An independent panel set up by Sports Resolutions cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing last year but WADA had been arguing that he has a degree of responsibility as he employs his physio. Both organizations have concluded that he never deliberately intended to use a banned substance.
The timing of the ban has raised some criticism with Sinner being able to return to the Tour to play at the Rome Masters in his native Italy, as well as the French Open. WADA had originally been pushing for a ban of between one and two years before reaching an agreement with Sinner’s legal team.
Weighing in on the topic following his semi-final exit from the Marseille Open on Saturday evening, Medvedev believes some positives could potentially occur for future anti-doping cases.
“We can discuss this subject for hours, which we will call political,” he told French-speaking media.
“Everyone can have an opinion. I am not going to say too much but I hope that from now on, everyone will be able to discuss with WADA and defend themselves like Jannik Sinner. If WADA tells you, ‘Here, we found this, it’s a 2-year suspension’, you answer: ‘Well no, I want 1 month,’ Medvedev jokingly added.
The world No.8 continued by saying it would be ‘weird’ if players weren’t able to defend themselves better in the future. All anti-doping cases are overseen by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Although any hearing is conducted by an independent tribunal convened by Sport Resolutions which has links no to either party.
“I hope that this will create a precedent and that the players will be able to defend themselves better. Otherwise, it would be weird,” said Medvedev.
“It was not Jannik who discussed with them (WADA) but his lawyer. But I hope that even the players who cannot afford a lawyer will have the opportunity to represent themselves and defend themselves.
“It is a bad signal if Sinner is the only one who can do that but it is a very good signal if, after that, everyone will be able to do the same thing.”
Sinner is banned from tennis events until May 4th but is allowed to resume official training activity from 13 April 2025.
