The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has defended the three-month ban handed to world No 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner, insisting the case is “a million miles from doping”.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March last year although he was not suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking a two-year ban but announced on Saturday a shorter suspension had been agreed, one that has been questioned by figures including Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Tim Henman.
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Jack Draper says the world No 1 player being banned is ‘not a good look’ for tennis
WADA’s general counsel Ross Wenzel believes Sinner’s sanction – which runs from February 9 to May 4 and leaves him clear to compete in the French Open – is “in the right place”.
He told the BBC: “This was a case that was a million miles away from doping. The scientific feedback that we received was that this could not be a case of intentional doping, including micro-dosing.
“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, that it was in the right place.
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Tim Henman says Sinner’s lenient suspension seems ‘too convenient’ and leaves a ‘sour taste’ for the sport
“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.”
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