Former World No.3 Stanislas Wawrinka has blasted the tennis doping systems for not properly handling Jannik Sinner’s doping cases. The Italian had tested positive twice for clostebol in March last year during the Indian Wells tournament. However, the news regarding his doping was released in August, a few hours after his Cincinnati Open title win.
After years of debate and plenty of talking points, Sinner eventually accepted a three-month suspension from the ATP and other tennis bodies. Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios have been the biggest critics of Sinner and his doping scandal in recent months. Now, the Swiss tennis player has not stopped showing what he feels about the situation.
What has Stanislas Wawrinka said?
According to Eurosport, Wawrinka said: “We have seen it in several cases in recent years. Some have been suspended for two years because they forgot to properly report their address. It has been handled in a way that I believe harms tennis because, in the end, you wonder what battle you are trying to win. Whether you are really looking for players who test positive or if it all comes down to having a good lawyer who can get you out in the best possible way.”
Wawrinka mainly compared Sinner’s case with that of other top-level players like Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova, who had to face harsher consequences in the same case. Both players are now retired, with Halep retiring as recently as last season. The Romanian player was banned following the 2022 US Open, and she had to miss almost two full seasons.
The Situation With Jannik Sinner
Sinner has not played professional tennis since winning the Australian Open earlier this year. It was the Italian’s third Grand Slam title and the second in Melbourne. However, he is under a doping suspension which runs until May 4. The Italian will return in front of his home crowd at the Rome Masters, where he will be seeking a fifth Masters 1000 crown.
Despite not playing professional tennis since the Australian Open, Sinner comfortably sits at the top of the ATP rankings. Other players like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz have failed to capitalize on the Italian’s absence. It remains to be seen how Sinner plays after coming back from suspension, but it is expected that the Italian will have a little bit of rust in his game.
