Boris Becker offered his support to Jannik Sinner after the Italian player’s doping verdict was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and a two-year ban was requested. Sinner had failed two drug tests earlier this year during the Indian Wells Masters after testing positive for an illegal anabolic steroid.
After Sinner tested positive for the prohibited substance clostebol last month, an independent tribunal determined that World No. 1 was not at fault or negligent in the Anti-Doping Rules Violations. This decision was made following an investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Following the decision in favour of Sinner, WADA formally appealed the ITIA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting a one- to two-year ban.
Sinner issued a statement in response to WADA’s appeal, expressing his dissatisfaction with the anti-doping agency’s ruling. After the ITIA hearing, he claimed that his innocence had been established and that he had nothing to conceal. In addition, he declared that he would do everything in his power to clear his name once more.
Sinner wrote: “I am disappointed to hear that WADA has chosen to appeal the result of my ITIA hearing after the independent judges had exonerated me and deemed me to be innocent. Over the past few months and throughout this process there have been three separate hearings in each case confirming my innocence. I have nothing to hide, and as I have done throughout the summer, I will cooperate fully with the appeal process and provide whatever may be needed to prove my innocence once again.”
Becker wrote in Sinner’s favour on X: “Word.”
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) September 28, 2024
Sinner in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2024
Now the world no.1, Jannik has managed to achieve a compiled 57-5 record in 2024. The Italian is currently competing in Beijing where he beat the world no.28 Nicolas Jarry 4-6 6-3 6-1 and the world no.69 Roman Safiullin 3-6 6-2 6-3.
Jannik Sinner will take on the world no.37 Jiri Lehecka in the quarter. Their actual record is 2-2.
Jannik clinched 6 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati and U.S. Open.
Jannik won 17 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 2nd of October and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 28th of October.