The head of the Italian Davis Cup team says he doesn’t want to think about the possibility of Jannik Sinner getting suspended from tennis.
Filippo Volandri has lent his full support behind the world No.1 who is currently locked in a legal battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The organization has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration to Sport.
Earlier this year, Sinner failed two drugs tests after testing positive for the steroid clostebol. However, The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that he had no fault or negligence following an investigation which was conducted by an independent panel. It was accepted that he was accidentally contaminated after being treated by a former physio who was using a spray on his hand that contained the banned substance.
WADA argues that the ITIA’s finding of no fault or negligence is ‘not correct under the applicable rules.’ They are seeking a ban of up to two years for the tennis player on the viewpoint that he had some responsibility in ensuring that his team wasn’t using prohibited substances. There is currently no suggestion that the WADA suspects Sinner of deliberately using prohibited substances. However, the details of the appeal are private.
“I don’t even want to think about a possible disqualification of Sinner, given his honesty and the irrefutable evidence he has provided,” Volandri said during an interview with QS Sport.
“But if there is a person with broad shoulders it is Jannik. A disqualification would be the greatest injustice in history.”
Sinner, who has won eight ATP titles in 2024, has denied allegations that he knowingly took a prohibited substance. After helping his country secure the Davis Cup title for the second year running on Sunday, he said the ongoing case has been playing on his mind.
“Of course it’s in the head a little bit,” Sinner said.
“The most important part is all the people who know me as a human being trust me — that’s why I kept playing the level I have.
“I was emotionally a bit down, a bit heartbroken. Sometimes life gives you difficulties and you just have to [deal with] it.”
It is currently not known when Sinner’s hearing at the CAS will take place. These cases are not open to the public and are conducted in-person, by video-conference, or in a mixed format.
