Carlos Alcaraz sympathises with Jannik Sinner who is facing the possibility of a ban following the reopening of his doping case.
On Saturday, the World Anto-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed that they have launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding a ruling on the world No.1 earlier this year. Sinner failed two drugs tests after testing positive for clostebol which is a steroid used to build muscle mass. An independent investigation by tennis’ anti-doping body ITIA acquitted the Italian of any wrongdoing and accepted that he unintentionally got the substance in his system via his former physio who was using a spray on his hands that contained the drug.
However, WADA argues that the ITIA’s decision was ‘not correct under the applicable rules’ and is seeking a ban of between one and two years for Sinner. Details of the appeal have not been made public but one argument WADA could be using is that the tennis player does have some degree of fault as he hired the staff who infected him with the substance. The ITIA ruled that there was no way Sinner could have avoided the substance.
“It’s really sensitive things to Jannik and tennis in general,” four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz told reporters in Beijing on Sunday. “I mean, after everything was decided, before Cincinnati, that the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency)…saying he didn’t do anything wrong, and now came again, it is open again. I think for tennis is not really good, not really good sign for tennis in general.”
Alcaraz says he was ‘surprised’ to learn that the case into Sinner has been reopened before going on to say it was ‘not a good sign’ for the sport. WADA is within their right to appeal against a decision they have reservations about and have done so on multiple occasions with other sports.
The situation Sinner is facing has drawn sympathy from Alcaraz who says it must be tough for his rival to deal with.
“I know that is a really difficult point,” he said.
“Is difficult for him. I know everyone talking about it, the news, talkingabout it. Probably, as he said before New York, people started to look at him in a different way. I don’t know how it can be. But for sure I understand the position. I feel him. “The game and the level that he’s playing with everything he’s been through right now, it’s insane. He’s able to put all the things aside when he step on the court, playing good tennis, is unbelievable.
“I hope that this thing, this term will be aside soon and he’s able to stay focused on what he loves, and that is playing tennis, trying to keep going. All I can say, is I hope that with his people around, his close people and him, not going to feel bad these next months.”
No timeframe regarding the WADA appeal has been made public and it is unknown if a decision will be made before the year ends.
Alcaraz and Sinner could face each other at the China Open if they both make it through to the final.
