Alexander Zverev has described the “whole process” of Jannik Sinner’s doping case and the length of the Italian’s ban as “strange.”
Sinner has been suspended from tennis for three months, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announcing on Saturday that it had agreed a settlement with the Italian’s representatives.
The Italian tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March 2024 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that the world No 1 would not be banned from playing after an independent tribunal ruled he bore “no fault or negligence.”
The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that clostebol had entered his body by accidental contamination when he received a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.
However, WADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the ITIA’s ruling in September, seeking to impose a suspension of between one and two years on Sinner.
The case was scheduled to be heard at the CAS from April 16-17, but Sinner avoided the prospect of a longer ban by agreeing a deal with WADA.
The three-time Grand Slam champion’s suspension period runs from February 9 until May 4 (his ban also includes four days previously served while he was under a provisional suspension).
Jannik Sinner News
Jannik Sinner doping ban: How many points will world No 1 drop due to suspension?
Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference at the Rio Open, Zverev weighed in on the resolution to the Sinner saga.
“It’s a strange situation because obviously it’s been a very long process where first he was exonerated, then WADA wanted to take a second look and things like that,” the world No 2 said.
“For me, I think there are two options. Either you are not guilty and you should not receive any suspension. Because if you are not guilty, then you are not guilty. You should not be punished.
“But if you are guilty, then I think that for taking steroids, three months is not a suspension.
“So for me, you have to decide whether it was his fault or not. If it’s not his fault, then he shouldn’t get a three-month suspension, but if it is his fault, then this is strange in a way.
“The whole process, the whole situation that has existed for the last year, has been almost strange.”
Lorenzo Musetti, who is also playing in Rio, gave his thoughts on his Italian compatriot’s ban.
“Everyone is free to have their own opinion. I don’t really know the facts, so it’s difficult to judge,” the world No 17 said.
“But of course I trust the organisation and all the committees that have been behind the process. So if that decision is the three-month suspension, for us I don’t think it will have changed much.”
Asked if he had spoken to Sinner since the deal was announced, Musetti added: “No, I haven’t been in contact with him, but I’ll probably see him in Monte Carlo. Because he’s not supposed to play, but of course he’ll be there.”
READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s PTPA makes strong statement on Jannik Sinner’s doping ban
The post Alexander Zverev makes his feelings clear on Jannik Sinner’s ‘strange’ doping ban appeared first on Tennis365.
Leave a Reply