WADA agreement with Sinner within the rules but has damaged anti-doping fight

The World Anti-Doping Agency has caused controversy after a deal with world number one Jannik Sinner, while new Salt Lake City 2034 President Fraser Bullock won't be complacent about preparations

First, it has to be made clear that the agreement the World Anti-Doping Agency and Jannik Sinner reached for the Italian three-time Grand Slam champion to serve a three-month suspension over two positive drugs test in March last year is perfectly within their own rules which have been there since 2021.

Second, if you accept the argument that WADA, which had appealed against the original decision to clear Sinner to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, said it accepted Sinner’s explanation that he was inadvertently and unknowingly contaminated with the banned anabolic steroid clostebol by his physiotherapist then three months is about the right length of time.

So, why does the decision feel so wrong? After all, Sinner will miss three months of the tennis season and lose valuable ranking points which could affect his world number one position. He will also always have the “drugs cheat” label attached to his name by many people who do not believe his story about a negligent physio.

Since testing positive for anabolic steroids, Italy’s Jannik Sinner has won two Grand Slam titles, including the US Open in New York City last September ©Wikipedia