Roger Federer has become the latest tennis star to weigh in on Jannik Sinner‘s doping saga.
The Italian twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March of this year but successfully appealed his provisional suspensions after arguing that the positive tests were the result of contamination. Last month, an independent tribunal ruled that he bore “no fault or negligence” for the two anti-doping violations.
Federer has now called out the “inconsistencies” in Sinner’s case and claimed that it brought unwanted noise to the sport.
Last month, Sinner and the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced the news of the Italian’s positive tests and the result of his independent tribunal hearing. The tribunal was held on August 15 with the news made public on August 20. Although the two positive tests came in March, it was the first time the tennis world learned of Sinner’s anti-doping violations.
It prompted questions over whether Sinner was treated unfairly, with other players often forced to serve provisional suspensions while they await a final decision. However, official documents from the hearing revealed that Sinner appealed his two provisional bans when he was first notified of them earlier in the year, as three experts found his explanation of contamination plausible.
Federer has now claimed that questions over the inconsistencies need to be answered, though the 20-time Grand Slam champion “trusts” that Sinner didn’t “do anything”.
“It’s not something we want to see in our sport, these types of news, regardless if he did something or not, or any player did. It’s just noise that we don’t want,” Federer told Today. “I understand it’s a tricky situation.
“It’s the nightmare of every athlete and team to have these allegations and these problems because we fill out these forms all day every day. And it lives with you. Every morning when you wake up, you think, ‘Is somebody at the door coming to test me?’ So it’s really difficult.”
MORE TO FOLLOW
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit: express.co.uk/sport/football. Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @dexpress_sport – the official Daily Express & Express.co.uk Twitter account – providing real news in real time.
We’re also on Facebook @dailyexpresssport – offering your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day to like, comment and share from the Daily Express, Sunday Express and Express.co.uk.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk