Tennis legend defends Sinner
“Believe 100 percent that Jannik is innocent”
04/30/2025 – 8:21 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Tennis star Jannik Sinner is currently closed due to positive doping tests. The 23-year-old is now protecting a size of the sport.
Rafael Nadal clearly stood behind Jannik Sinner in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. The Spaniard commented on the three -month doping lock of the world ranking list – and emphasized that he would not accuse the Italian.
“I think 100 percent that Jannik is innocent. I don’t think Jannik wanted to do something that is not allowed,” said Nadal. The 22-time Grand Slam winner does not see a special status for Sinner due to his position at the top of the world rankings. “I don’t think he was treated differently than another person,” emphasized Nadal.
In his long career, he went through numerous doping controls himself and was convinced of the process: “I really believe in the procedure, I have participated in all tests for 20 years, how strict things are in every single sentence. And I believe in the process.”
Sinner had been tested twice for closebol twice in March 2024. However, he argued that the anabolic steroid had reached his body unintentionally – during treatment by his physiotherapist. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted this.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) initially announced that it wanted to bring the case to the International Sports Court CAS. In February, however, one agreed on a comparison. Sinner was retroacted for three months retrospectively. He can start again from May 4th. His comeback is planned at the Masters in Rome, which begins on May 7th.