‘Innocent’ Jannik Sinner’s Suspension Criticized by Former ATP Tour Star
Jannik Sinner’s suspension has sparked controversy, with former ATP Tour star and doubles Grand Slam champion Patrick McEnroe offering a strong defense of the world No. 1.
Sinner, who is serving a three-month suspension, settled his long-running doping case with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in February 2024. The Italian tennis star tested positive twice for the banned steroid clostebol in March 2024, with the violation announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August 2024.
Despite the positive tests, Sinner successfully appealed against a provisional suspension for both violations. The ITIA determined he was “no fault or negligence,” allowing him to continue competing without a ban. He argued that a team member had accidentally contaminated him. However, WADA appealed the severity of the sanction in September 2024, and the case was set to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April 2025. There was the possibility of a two-year suspension if CAS ruled in favor of WADA.
In February 2025, a settlement was reached, and Sinner received a three-month ban, which began in early February and will end on May 4, 2025. He is expected to return to action at the Italian Open later that week.
The case has divided opinions within the tennis community, but McEnroe, also the International Tennis Hall of Fame president, defended Sinner, labeling him “innocent.” He said: “I don’t think he should have been suspended. They went through the process exactly as it was meant to go. I’m not saying it’s impossible players have figured out how to beat the system, but based on what we know and the protocols followed, he was innocent.”
McEnroe also dismissed the argument that other players had been treated unfairly, stating, “The idea that we should treat him badly because others were treated badly is absurd.”
Sinner’s suspension has caused him to miss two Masters 1000 events, Indian Wells and Miami, and he will also miss the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open, which concludes just as his ban expires.
Despite not competing since his Australian Open victory in January, Sinner remains the No. 1 ranked player in the ATP Race to Turin, maintaining a substantial lead. His rivals, including Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, have not been able to capitalize on his absence.
