Rafael Nadal is ‘convinced’ that Jannik Sinner never tried to take a banned substance on purpose following a high-profile doping case that resulted in the Italian receiving a 90-day suspension.
Last year Sinner failed two anti-doping tests after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. After being notified of his violations, the tennis star told an investigation that he was accidentally contaminated with the substance by his former physio Giacomo Naldi, who had a cut on his finger and used a spray containing clostebol to treat it. Naldi transferred the substance when he was treating Sinner without wearing gloves. An independent panel accepted Sinner’s explanation and cleared him of any wrongdoing.
However, shortly after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched an appeal arguing that Sinner has an element of responsibility for his failed tests as he employed his physio and should have ensured that he was following the correct protocol at all times. Eventually, a case settlement between Sinner’s legal team and WADA was reached which resulted in him being suspended for 90 days between the Australian Open and French Open.
Speaking about the case during an interview with L’Equipe, Nadal has dismissed any suggestion that Sinner tried to cheat.
“(I’m) totally convinced that Jannik never intended to cheat or do anything illegal. I’m convinced of it, I’d bet my life on it,” he said. “There’s always a lot of noise around this kind of thing, and when it happens, it’s bad for everyone.
“For him, who, I think, went through a nightmare for a year. Obviously, for tennis, this kind of thing is negative.”
The King of Clay also said he trusts the anti-doping system in tennis, which has come under fire. Critics say preferential treatment was given to Sinner due to his status and ability to hire the best lawyers. There has also been criticism about the timing of Sinner’s suspension which ended shortly before his home tournament in Rome began and resulted in him not missing any major events.
“I trust Jannik. But, just as I trust Jannik, I also trust the justice system,” Nadal commented.
“I don’t like to give my opinion on things I don’t know. So I understand that when the justice system makes decisions, it’s because it has all the necessary information that we don’t have.”
Sinner has also maintained his innocence throughout the case and previously spoke about his frustration of having a 90-day suspension. Both the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and WADA confirmed they had no evidence of deliberate doping during their investigations into Sinner.
Nadal spoke about the case ahead of his return to the French Open, which he has won a record 14 times. This Sunday a special ceremony will take place in his honor on court Phillippe Chatrier. It will take place following the conclusion of the day matches.
“I’m not much for tributes, but Roland-Garros is obviously the most important place in my career, without a doubt,” Nadal recently commented.
“So, if something big is to be done, it has to be there, or at least give them priority to do it there. And that’s how it was planned from the beginning, and nothing more. I’m delighted that it’s the way it is.”
Nadal retired from tennis last year at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
