World number one Jannik Sinner found himself in a difficult position during his doping case, contemplating walking away from tennis as he felt uncomfortable and judged by other players during the Australian Open. The 23-year-old Italian tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024, leading to a three-month ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency just after he successfully defended his title in Melbourne.
“I remember before the Australian Open this year, I was not in a very happy moment because there was still that case of doping,” Sinner revealed in an interview with Italian broadcaster RAI. “I didn’t really feel comfortable in the locker room, where I ate. It was a bit like some players looked at me differently, and I didn’t like it at all.”
The atmosphere in the tennis world became stifling for Sinner, who usually enjoyed joking around and socializing with fellow players. However, the cloud of suspicion and judgment cast a shadow over his usual interactions, making him reconsider his future in the sport. “I didn’t feel comfortable, and then I said, maybe after Australia, a little bit of free time, in the sense where I take a little break, it will do me good,” he admitted.
Despite being cleared of any intentional wrongdoing by an independent panel, Wada challenged the decision and sought a ban of up to two years through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). Eventually, Sinner reached a settlement with the anti-doping agency for a shorter sanction and is set to make his comeback at the Italian Open in Rome after the ban expires on 5 May.
Wada acknowledged that Sinner did not gain any competitive advantage from the banned substance and bore no fault for accidental contamination. However, the ban received criticism from tennis figures like Serena Williams, Tim Henman, and Stan Wawrinka, who questioned the leniency of the punishment.
In response to the backlash, Sinner defended his position, stating, “I don’t want to respond to criticism. People are free to say what they want and judge people. What matters to me is that I know what I’ve been through. It was difficult, and I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through that as an innocent person.”
As Sinner prepares to return to the court and put the doping case behind him, the tennis world will be watching closely to see how he bounces back from this challenging period in his career.
