"If they had suspended Jannik Sinner, I wouldn’t have blinked" - Andy Roddick on Italian bearing 'some responsibility' for his team amid WADA appeal

Andy Roddick recently talked about Jannik Sinner bearing 'some responsibility' for his team amidst the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealing for him to be banned for one to two years. Roddick mentioned that if Sinner had been suspended earlier, such as during the 2024 US Open, it wouldn't have fazed him.

After Sinner tested positive for the prohibited substance clostebol earlier this year, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) conducted an investigation. An independent tribunal concluded that the Italian was not at fault for the Anti-Doping Rule Violations. Despite this ruling, WADA appealed for a one to two-year ban for Jannik Sinner.

During a recent episode of the "Served with Andy Roddick" podcast, Roddick discussed Sinner's case and WADA's appeal. He mentioned that the players have a 48-hour window to prepare their defense after testing positive for banned substances. He said that the World No.1 did just that, providing the necessary documents to prove his innocence and continue playing

“In all of these cases, if you’re organised enough to know, to figure out what the source of claiming ‘no fault, no negligence,’ the source of the substance, you have like a 48 hour shot clock from when you're notified. Talk to your team, talk to everyone else, get to know the problem to solve the problem, which Jannik Sinner did with it within that 48 hour period which is why he has gotten some time and didn't have to stop playing,” Roddick said [4:53].

Roddick stressed that it is important for the players to submit a formal proposal as the basis of their defense, which he believes Jannik Sinner did effectively.

He also expressed that if Sinner had been banned for six months during the 2024 US Open, it wouldn't have surprised him, as he believes players should take responsibility for their team, alluding to the fact that the Italian was deemed innocent after he claimed that his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, had unknowingly applied trace amounts of clostebol to his body during a massage.

“You have to submit a formal proposal with confidence ‘cause that’s what your case is going to be based off of. Jannik Sinner did that which is why people are saying, ‘Well he got special treatment.’ No he did everything he has done so far and listen you might want him to get suspended, I don’t disagree with you. I said during the US Open, if they had suspended him for six months I wouldn’t have blinked, like I understand that we have some responsibility for our team and our surroundings,” he continued [6:17].

Andy Roddick said that Jannik Sinner worked with his lawyers promptly during the 48-hour timeframe and that is why he was acquitted and was allowed to continue playing.

“I don’t think he did it on purpose. He did execute within that 48 hour period. He got his ducks in a row, and submitted his case. He was able to move very quickly in a very organised fashion with a bunch of fancy lawyers. This isn't a tennis issue if you can afford a fancy lawyer you normally get to a result faster and softer,” Andy Roddick said [6:45].

Jannik Sinner on the WADA appeal: “Very disappointed, I was not expecting it”

Jannik Sinner talkig to the press [Source: Getty]

Jannik Sinner is currently defending his title at the 2024 China Open. During a press conference at the tournament, Sinner was asked to share his thoughts on WADA appealing the ruling of "no fault or negligence."

In response, the Italian expressed that he was disappointed and surprised at the appeal, as he had already been deemed innocent after undergoing three separate hearings.

“Obviously I'm very disappointed and also surprised of this appeal, to be honest, because we had three hearings. All three hearings came out very positively for me. You know, I was not expecting it,” Sinner said.

The World No.1 stated that it was a surprise for him to see WADA appealing for his ban. However, he acknowledged that WADA might want to ensure that all protocols were followed correctly and that everything was in the "right position."

“But yeah, it's surprise. We always talk about the same thing. Maybe they just want to make sure that everything is in the right position . Yeah, I'm just surprised that they appealed,” he added .

Jannik Sinner is just one win away from defending his title at the China Open. He defeated the likes of Nicolas Jarry, Roman Safiullin, Jiri Lehecka, and Buyunchaokete to secure his spot in the final.

In the championship match, Sinner will go up against Carlos Alcaraz, a player whom he has faced nine times on the ATP tour, winning four of those encounters. Their most recent matchup took place in the semifinals of the 2024 French Open which the Spaniard won.

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