Jannik Sinner will probably be opening his Australian Open 2025 marketing campaign in Melbourne on Monday, in opposition to Chile’s Nicolas Jarry. However the World No. 1’s participation within the season-opening Grand Slam occasion has been shrouded with controversy attributable to a doping scandal. Final yr, Sinner’s 2024 US Open title run was overshadowed by a doping incident.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner takes a drink throughout a apply session.(AP)
It was revealed that he had examined constructive twice for an anabolic agent in March, however then his protection was accepted by an unbiased tribunal that it was attributable to unintentional contamination. Quick ahead to September, the WADA appealed the choice to CAS, which was accepted. The CAS verdict will probably be handed this yr.
However Aussie star Nick Kyrgios is sad that the CAS trial will happen behind closed doorways. Taking to X, previously referred to as Twitter, Kyrgios wrote, “Why behind closed doors? If you have done nothing wrong, then let there be transparency.”
Kyrgios has already attacked Sinner concerning his doping case in the course of the Brisbane Worldwide and his issues was additionally voiced by Novak Djokovic.
In the meantime, doping skilled Fritz Sorge, director of the Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Analysis in Nuremberg, feels that the World No. 1 must be banned. “Sinner should be suspended because every athlete is responsible for what he puts into his body. If he wasn’t, the World Anti-Doping Agency would make itself ridiculous,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, the ITIA’s manner of dealing with Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s doping instances additionally acquired criticism from tennis legend Boris Becker. Talking on Eurosport, he mentioned, “Yes, it is bad for tennis. A sensible solution must be found so that this does not happen again. If two of the best professionals in our sport are involved, then it is damaging. This undeniably tarnishes our image.”
Swiatek, however, served a one-month doping ban, which resulted in December final yr. She examined constructive in an out-of-competition pattern and the ITIA accepted her protection that it was attributable to unregulated remedy melatonin, which was manufactured and bought in Poland.