Tennis legend Roger Federer has denounced open questions in the doping scandal surrounding world number one Jannik Sinner. The Italian was acquitted shortly before the US Open after two positive doping tests. The public had not heard anything about the proceedings until the acquittal.
“I think we all pretty much trust that Jannik didn’t do anything,” said the Swiss Federer on NBC’s “Today” show on US television. “But the possible discrepancy that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 percent sure what was going on – I think that’s a question that needs to be answered.” You have to trust the process, but: “I understand the frustration: Was he treated the same as others?” asked Federer.
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According to the responsible tennis agency Itia, Sinner was acquitted two weeks ago by an independent court after two positive tests in March for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol. The Australian Open winner’s explanation that the banned substance accidentally entered his body during a massage was considered conclusive.
Federer: This is the kind of message you don’t want to see in sport
“This is something we don’t want to see in our sport, this kind of news, regardless of whether he did something or not,” said the 43-year-old Federer, who ended his career two years ago with 20 Grand Slam titles. “I understand that it is a tricky situation. It is every athlete’s and team’s nightmare to have these allegations and problems.”
Novak Djokovic had already denounced the unequal treatment of other tennis professionals in the doping scandal surrounding Sinner. “I understand the players’ frustration because there is a lack of consistency. We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols,” said the 37-year-old Serb in New York. Despite the scandal, Sinner is in the quarterfinals of the US Open.
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