Sinner considers withdrawing from tennis before accepting a three-month ban in stimulant case
Rome (AP) — Jannik Sinner fully considered leaving tennis earlier this year before he accepted a three-month ban on settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.
When asked in an interview with Italian TV if he had ever considered quitting, the highest-ranked sinner replied: “Yes.
“I remember it wasn’t a very happy time before the Australian Open this year,” Sinner added. “I was really uncomfortable in the locker room, we were in the place to eat. The players looked at me differently. I said to myself, ‘Maybe I need to spend some time after Australia.’ I don’t want to (ban).’
Sinner won his second Australian Open in January.
Until February, after WADA appealed to an international integrity agency last year’s decision, the settlement was conducted in an admixture case to completely exempt Sinner from the accidental contamination of the banned congenital metabolic steroids in March 2024.
“It’s hard for me to accept these three months. Because I know I’ve done nothing wrong. So why pay this price?” said the sinner. “But then we talked about it with my attorney and what could happen in the worst case, so we decided to accept it.”
The handling of the criminal’s case raises questions about double standards. The positive test was not publicly disclosed until August because the sinner successfully filed an appeal against a temporary ban on the game. He then won the U.S. Open in September.
This settlement also raises doubts as it conveniently allows sinners to return at the Italian Open next week (his home game) and don’t miss any Grand Slams.
“Last year was definitely very stressful,” Sina said in an interview aired late Tuesday. “But we were still able to get incredible results. We were also very good this year. What happened. At first, it was a little weird in this situation. And, a lot of things I didn’t expect were going on outside the court.”
Several top players have suggested that sinners be overtreated.
“I don’t even want to respond. Everyone is free to say what they want. It’s important for me that I know what’s going on.” “I don’t want those innocent people to go through everything I’ve gone through.”
Despite only one match this year, Sina maintained the highest ranking in the suspension as second-place Alexander Zverev and third-place Carlos Alcaraz won enough victory when he was out to surpass him.
“I miss the game,” Sina said. “I’m glad this period is done and I’m ready to compete again.”
