"I think what Jannik Sinner did was within rules"- Daniil Medvedev addresses rival's "no fault" verdict; brings into focus the daunting doping rules
Daniil Medvedev addressed his rival Jannik Sinner’s recent doping controversy following his first-round win against Dusan Lajovic at the 2024 US Open. The Russian opined that the procedure followed by Sinner and his legal team in closing the case was within the ITIA rules, but hoped for the rules to be uniform across the board.
Last week, Jannik Sinner was cleared of wrongdoing in his two positive doping tests from March 2024. He was stripped of 400 ranking points and $325,000 in prize money he collected at Indian Wells, where the tests occurred. According to the official report, the failed tests were the result of Sinner coming into direct contact with his physiotherapist’s wounded finger, which, unbeknownst to him, was being treated with a healing spray containing Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid.
While Jannik Sinner was declared innocent, a few of his colleagues blasted the authorities over alleged "preferential treatment." They questioned why the case wasn’t made public before its conclusion. Many also wondered how the World No. 1 seemingly escaped suspension, which, according to them, is a norm in doping cases, whether innocent or not.
It is worth noting, though, that Sinner was handed two brief suspensions, but he and his legal team successfully made emergency appeals both times. In his US Open press conference, the 23-year-old said, abiding by the rules, he was allowed to play, and his case wasn't made public before a verdict due to these appeals and his team's expeditiousness in providing evidence.
While a few players were unconvinced by the rules, Daniil Medvedev placed his faith in his rival, just like Taylor Fritz and many others. Additionally, he hoped for each player who is trapped in similar cases to have an identical outcome.
"I just say that I hope this situation can be the same for every player – like every player can defend himself. Because I think what he (Jannik Sinner) did was within the rules. It’s just that the rules are a little bit vague," Daniil Medvedev said in his post-match press conference.
"When you don't know, you get suspended" – Daniil Medvedev on how Jannik Sinner's timely submission of evidence proved crucial
Doping suspensions, considering the varying parameters, can range from a few days or months to four years. Many players, who have maintained their innocence, have allegedly fallen prey to prolonged bans, presumably because they were unable to prove their innocence or provide evidence in a timely manner.
In that regard, Daniil Medvedev said:
"For me the only thing where doping cases make me scared is – so he (Jannik Sinner) knew what happened and good for him, he managed to defend himself," he said in the aforementioned press conference.
"Imagine, whatever tennis player in the top 100 gets an email and they say, ‘Look, there was cocaine in your blood.’ And you (the player) come to them (the authorities) and you say, ‘Well, I never did anything in my life. I don’t know how did it get there.’ And when you don’t know, you get suspended," Medvedev continued.
"That’s a little bit tricky part. But that’s how, yeah, doping rules are. It’s okay, you go with it. As I said, I hope it’s the same treatment for every player."
Just like the Russian, several other tennis players called for reform regarding the seemingly disproportionate punishments in doping cases. Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni, too, vouched for Jannik Sinner’s innocence and hoped that his verdict sets a precedent for future cases.
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, wondered if lack of financial resources and adequate legal aid played a role in lower-ranked players possibly getting trapped in similar cases.