"Jannik Sinner's one of the most honest on circuit"- Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni condemns vitriol directed at Italian over "no fault" in doping tests
Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni did not appreciate the vitriol directed at Jannik Sinner, despite the World No. 1 being declared innocent in the doping row. The Spanish coach indicated that Sinner’s case should serve as an example for future reform.
Sinner tested positive for traces of a banned substance called “Clostebol” twice during his Indian Wells campaign in March this year. The case concluded last week (August 19). It was established that the player bore no fault or negligence in the positive tests, and the amount of Clostebol present in his samples had no performance-enhancing effect.
Evidence confirmed that Jannik Sinner’s physiotherapist, who used a healing spray containing Clostebol to treat his own finger wound, unintentionally exposed him to the substance during his massages. Abiding by the rules, the World No. 1 was stripped of 400 ranking points and the $325,000 he collected during his Indian Wells run. Notably, Sinner also received two brief suspensions in April, but both were successfully appealed by him and his legal team.
He was, however, chastised by tennis fans and a few players, who accused the ITIA and the ATP of alleged “preferential treatment.” It should be noted, though, that the ATP has no influence on the outcome of doping cases.
In that regard, Rafael Nadal’s uncle, Toni, said:
"After the pertinent explanations given by both the Italian player and his team, it is crystal clear to me that the player will not commit a crime and, much less, try to seek any advantage from the use of prohibited substances," he said in his column in El Pais. (Translated from Spanish)
"I know the player well enough to be able to affirm without hesitation that he is one of the most honest and educated on the circuit. It is unthinkable to me that he could act falsely knowing that he is doing so." he added. "Within his team, a mistake occurred that has been sufficiently settled, I believe, with the financial sanction imposed on the tennis player and the loss of 400 points.”
Toni Nadal further opined that the anti-doping sanctions are largely unreasonable.
"The daily life of players is, sometimes, extremely vulnerable in this aspect. Any slip or unfortunate mistake can lead to an often exaggerated punishment," he said.
The Spanish coach spoke about the misdirected anger toward Jannik Sinner, saying that it should be the excessive suspensions in past cases that are scrutinized.
"It really strikes me that certain media outlets, far from being displeased by the disproportionate punishments on other occasions, now demand a similar punishment for the current World No. 1. People who, without complete knowledge of each case, are always willing to give their opinion, judge and, above all, condemn others is still surprising."
"It amazes me much more that it is from within the tennis circuit itself. I do not understand that they're some of his own colleagues, tennis players who, without a doubt, have trained with him or have faced him as a rival and who are perfectly aware of the relentless monitoring that the World Anti-Doping Agency does of all of them," Rafael Nadal's uncle added.
Jannik Sinner to resume his season at US Open 2024
Given that Jannik Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing in his two positive tests, the Italian is free to continue his 2024 season. He commences his US Open campaign on Tuesday, August 27.
Sinner is chasing his second Grand Slam title, having won his maiden trophy at the Australian Open earlier this year. Following his triumph in Melbourne, the World No. 1 added four more trophies to his cabinet—at the ATP 500s in Rotterdam and Halle and the Masters 1000s in Miami and Cincinnati (August 19).
Despite losing 400 Indian Wells ranking points before the US Open, Jannik Sinner holds a comfortable 1900-point lead over World No. 2 Novak Djokovic. He would look to increase the lead during the ongoing Grand Slam in New York as he bids to finish his 2024 season as the year-end World No. 1 for the first time.