"Who cares what player with lower ranking thinks"- After 13-month suspension, Kamil Majchrzak 'devastated' with Jannik Sinner doping controversy
Kamil Majchrzak was 'devastated' and 'shocked' upon learning about Jannik Sinner's failed drug test. While the Italian continued playing after his tests, the Polish player served a 13-month ban for his failed tests.
In September and October of 2022, Majchrzak tested positive for three banned substances in Sofia, Japan, and Seoul. He failed another test in November conducted by Polish officials. The Polish player revealed that an isotonic drink that he had been consuming contained the prohibited substances.
Since November 30, 2022, Majchrzak was provisionally suspended. In June 2023, it was announced that he received a 13-month ban for his failed drug tests. He was to return to competitive tennis from December 29, 2023.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner tested positive twice in March this year. He continued playing as his appeals on both occasions were accepted. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and an independent tribunal investigated the situation and did not find Sinner at fault.
It was revealed that his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi was applying an over-the-counter cream to treat his own wound. Naldi inadvertently contaminated Sinner while treating him.
Majchrzak, currently competing at the 2024 US Open qualifiers, was displeased with how the World No. 1's situation panned out. He took to social media and wrote:
"I received news from the tennis world that was shocking and extremely painful for me. I did not go into details for my own health and mental comfort, but the fact that I could not even set foot on a non-private court for most of the duration of my case while others could play normally and fulfill their dreams in the same situation does not give me peace. I am devastated and shocked. But as I said, maybe I am wrong. Besides, who cares what player with lower ranking thinks."
Majchrzak kept a hold of his emotions and came a step closer to participating in his first Grand Slam main draw at the 2024 US Open, since his ban. He defeated Michael Zheng in the first round of the qualifiers and will take on Daniel Galan next.
Similarities in failed drug tests of Jannik Sinner and Kamil Majchrzak
Although the punishments received by Jannik Sinner and Kamil Majchrzak were different, their situations had similarities. Firstly, according to the ITIA, both players were found to have not committed the offense intentionally or knowingly.
Secondly, the amount of banned substances in both cases was reportedly not enough to enhance performance. In Majchrzak's case, he revealed that the substances detected would have needed to be "several hundred and several thousand times higher than what was found in my urine samples to even begin to have any effect."
In Sinner's case, his lawyers reported that the banned substance - clostebol - was found to be "less than a billionth of a gram" in the Italian's system.
Notably, Sinner lost the ranking points (400) and prize money ($325,000) from his semifinal run at Indian Wells during which he tested positive.