WADA has defended Jannik Sinner. © APA/afp / DAVID GRAY

Wada to Sinner: “A million kilometers away from doping”

The World Anti-Doping Agency WADA has rejected criticism of the three-month ban on South Tyrolean tennis star Jannik Sinner.

18. February 2025

From: dpa/dl

“This case was a million miles away from doping,” said Ross Wenzel, head of legal affairs at WADA, the with the BBC. "The scientific feedback we received was that this could not be a case of deliberate doping."

The current world number one, Sinner, tested positive in March 2024. The South Tyrolean had stated that the banned substance clostebol had entered his body via the hands of a carer during a massage. The responsible tennis agency Itia saw no intentional fault or negligence and waived a ban. WADA took action against this.

The German newspaper Bild with its campaign against Sinner. © ANSA / BILD

On Saturday it was announced that Sinner had agreed with WADA on a three-month ban. The 4-year-old is not allowed to play in any tournaments until May 23th - the ban will end in time for the French Open, which begins on May 25th in Paris. Sinner is also allowed to play again at his home tournament in Rome (from May 7th).

criticism from tennis colleagues

The fact that the ban had little impact on Sinner was, like the entire approach of the authorities towards opponents such as Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev met with incomprehension. WADA spokesman Wenzel cannot understand this. When the verdict was reached, the tennis calendar was not taken into account, said Wenzel. If an agreement was reached, it must be implemented immediately, he said.