The Bulgarian did not mince words when talking about the Italian doping case, expressing his “astonishment” at how the case has been handled.
Dimitrov Denounces “Double Standard” in Sinner’s Doping Case
The Bulgarian did not mince words when talking about the Italian doping case, expressing his “astonishment” at how the case has been handled.
Several weeks have passed since the positive doping test of Jannik Sinner was revealed, and it continues to be a recurring topic of debate among many players. Not even the title at the US Open 2024 has silenced the questions from journalists and the responses from tennis players who are willing to give their opinions on this still very hot issue. The latest to speak out was Grigor Dimitrov, who held nothing back.
The Bulgarian, recently confirmed as Rafael Nadal’s replacement for the 2024 Laver Cup, is currently in the capital of his country, Sofia, where he will play an exhibition match tonight with Novak Djokovic. Prior to that, he was interviewed by his country’s television, and one of the topics he was questioned about was the positive doping case of Jannik Sinner, whom he has faced on several occasions, including recent losses in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and the Miami Open final.
– DIMITROV DENOUNCES “DOUBLE STANDARD” IN THE CASE PROCEDURE
Many of the harshest criticisms have been directed at how the case was handled: the public was unaware of this matter until the court decided to exonerate Jannik, and his provisional suspension was lifted just a day after news of the positive result, preventing the process from coming to light. It is here where Dimitrov finds the biggest gaps and raises several questions, mentioning that there has been a “double standard” compared to the procedures of other players.
“As I said before, what surprised me the most in New York was how the processes and protocols in this case have been handled. There are players who have experienced completely different processes, with different procedures, and that made me wonder if there has been a double standard. A double standard is basically what I’m referring to, yes. We also see this in other sports. It’s no secret. However, the way this case has unfolded has been very strange to me, even for someone who has been on the ATP circuit for many years. We know things from the inside, especially how tournaments are organized.”
Therefore, the Bulgarian adds his voice to the critics of the process management, both in reference to the ATP and the ITIA handling after Jannik’s positive result was communicated. In recent days, however, there have also been voices supporting the legitimacy of the process and defending his innocence, including, for example, Casper Ruud.
