"Ridiculous" - Nick Kyrgios slams Andy Roddick over "innocence until proven guilty" defense of Jannik Sinner amid Italian's doping controversy
Nick Kyrgios has criticized Andy Roddick after the American sided with Jannik Sinner amid the raging controversy surrounding the Italian, who tested positive for a banned substance twice earlier this year. Both Sinner and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) shared the news on Tuesday, August 20, sparking outrage because of the widespread perception that the Italian wasn't punished appropriately.
Sinner reportedly provided conclusive evidence in his defense to an independent tribunal. According to the evidence, Clostebol, the banned substance, made its way into the reigning Australian Open champion's bloodstream after his physiotherapist had massaged him with a cut finger. At the time (during and after the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, when the tests were carried out), the physiotherapist was reportedly using a spray containing Clostebol to treat the wound.
The World No. 1 has been stripped of the ranking points and prize money he earned during his Indian Wells campaign. He was also provisionally suspended briefly, but he appealed it successfully and was allowed to keep competing on the ATP Tour. The final report stated that the traces of Clostebol found were equivalent to "a billionth of a gram", which, according to experts, wouldn't have been enough to enhance the Italian's performances.
The developments have seen several prominent figures in tennis ridicule the authorities' decision not to hand out a stricter punishment for Sinner. Nick Kyrgios is among them. However, there are also some notable names, such as Andy Roddick, who have come out in defense of Sinner.
Recently, Roddick, a former World No. 1, assessed Sinner's situation and dismissed talk of "preferential treatment" towards the Italian. Critics of the decision have cited examples of past instances where other players were given lengthy bans for missing tests, whereas Sinner actually tested positive, twice, for the banned substance.
"All this talk of sinister things and preferential treatment... you're a number on a bottle, you're allowed to appeal during the appeal process until you're guilty, so innocence until proven guilty is something we hear a lot. It didn't come out until yesterday and then became a complete firestorm," Roddick said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast. [12.23 onwards]
Kyrgios, vehemently in disagreement with Roddick, fired back at the 2003 US Open champion via a post on X, writing:
"Do you understand how quickly this stuff exits your system? Cream, gummies literally hours. Ridiculous statement."
"You should be gone for two years" - Nick Kyrgios on punishment Jannik Sinner should have received
In a previous post on X, Kyrgios suggested that Sinner should serve a two-year suspension because the Italian was tested positive for a banned substance on two separate occasions. The controversial Australian also ridiculed the version of events presented by Sinner's defense, i.e., the Italian getting contaminated due to his physio's massages.
"Ridiculous - whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice," Kyrgios wrote on X.
Sinner is currently in New York preparing for his 2024 US Open campaign, where he will start proceedings with a first-round clash against Mackenzie McDonald. The World No. 1 is heading into the year's last Major with considerable momentum, having recently defeated Frances Tiafoe to lift the Cincinnati Open trophy.