"Rules were followed to the letter"- Jannik Sinner given clean chit by former head of ATP's Anti-Doping Program amid failed drug test controversy
Jannik Sinner's failed drug tests controversy has become a major talking point in the tennis world, with many not in favor of how the situation was handled. However, a former head of ATP’s Anti-Doping Program revealed that due diligence was followed throughout. He stated that the rules were 'followed to the letter'.
Sinner tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug twice in March. His provisional suspension was minimal on both occasions as his appeals were accepted. The situation was disclosed to the public in August after an independent tribunal completed an investigation into the matter.
The Italian was cleared of any fault or wrongdoing. It was revealed that he was inadvertently contaminated with a substance called clostebol by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
Several personalities from the tennis world including Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov have spoken against the way the situation was handled. However, in a recent interview with Ubitennis, Richard Ings, who was the head of the ATP’s Anti-Doping Program from 2001 to 2005, gave it a clean chit.
He answered why the matter was not made public in the initial stages and why Sinner did not receive lengthy provisional suspensions.
"I read the decision and the rules were followed to the letter. Sinner was provisionally suspended. His lawyers lodged a same-day appeal for urgent lifting of the provisional suspension based on evidence he had no fault. An expedited hearing in such cases is a feature of the rules.” Ings explained.
“An arbitrator heard the appeal and handed down his decision to lift the suspension. No announcement can be made under the rules now until the matter is heard in full by a tribunal. So he can play," he added.
Further, Ings also said that after the tribunal reviewed the case and found Sinner at no fault, so, he was cleared of any suspensions. However, he revealed that it was 'mandatory' that Sinner lost his ranking points and prize money earned at Indian Wells, the event during which he tested positive.
Richard Ings reveals the ATP or ITF held no jurisdiction over Jannik Sinner's failed drug test controversy
Richard Ings, who was also the CEO of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, made several revelations in his interview with Ubitennis. He stated that the ATP was not involved in the decision-making process of Jannik Sinner's failed drug test controversy.
"This matter has nothing to do with the ATP. The ITIA takes the sample and prosecutes the case. Sports Resolution convenes the training and arbitrators. The ATP is not involved by design. Nor is the ITF,” he said.
Further, Ings believes Giacomo Naldi's actions 'have cost Jannik Sinner over half a million dollars, including lawyers' and the World No. 1 is also on the receiving end of 'negative press and locker room barbs.'
However, Ings also lays out the difficult reality of the situation. During his interview and an update on X, he mentioned that 'high net worth' players can 'secure the best representation' to pull them out of these predicaments but a 'journeyman' player in a similar situation is 'pretty much screwed'.
Jannik Sinner will enter the US Open as the top seed after winning the third Masters 1000 title of his career at the Cincinnati Open.