Nicolas Mahut believes Jannik Sinner when the Italian says that he didn’t intentionally take a banned substance but is also telling the 23-year-old that this would never happen to Novak Djokovic because the Serb would never allow his team to make such a mistake and see himself fail a doping test over “a negligence” act.
After the current world No. 1 twice tested positive for an anabolic steroid during and after the Indian Wells Masters, his defense was that it came via a contaminated product that was used by his physiotherapist to treat a cut. The explanation was accepted by the ITIA and the two-time Grand Slam escaped any suspension after the ITIA investigation that he “bore no fault or negligence” for what happened.
But after everything came to light, the majority of the blame was placed on Giacomo Naldi who treated Sinner with an over-the-counter spray. After public scrutiny and criticism, the Italian tennis star decided to part ways with Naldi.
While the world No. 1 avoided being provisionally suspended or getting any kind of ban, he is now again in trouble after the WADA appealed to the CAS about the ITIA’s verdict. That means that the 23-year-old will again have to battle to clear his name.
Mahut: I believe Sinner but his team didn’t do a good enough job
The Frenchman, who won five Grand Slam titles in doubles during his career, suggests the Italian’s team is to blame for what happened because it was their job to check that everything was fine with the product before providing it to the 23-year-old.
“If you ask me, I think he didn’t try to cheat. Yes, there was negligence. But I think what happened to him would never have happened to Novak Djokovic. Let me explain. A doubles player (Marco Bortolotti) found himself in the same situation as Sinner. He appealed, he was not suspended and he was cleared. The product is an over-the-counter product in Italy. So his team is aware of it. Sinner should have been informed that there was a product of this type in his entourage and if he used it, the physiotherapist should have washed his hands and put on gloves,” Mahut told Eurosport.
“And in my opinion, it would never have happened to a player like Novak because he would have been informed. There was negligence on the part of Sinner’s team. Internal communication, within his team, was very poor. There was a lack of attention because other players tested positive for this product and today he finds himself in this situation. It is possible that he is innocent but suspended for negligence.”
Nicolas Mahut© Nicolas Mahut/Instagram – Fair Use
Sinner didn’t hide his disappointment after the WADA move
At the start of the China Open in Beijing, the recent US Open champion was notified by the WADA that they intended to lodge an appeal in his case 40 days after the ITIA ruling came. When asked about it, the world No. 1 admitted to reporters that he was both surprised and disappointed simply because he didn’t expect it to happen.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed and also surprised of this appeal, to be honest, because we had three hearings. All three hearings came out very positively for me. You know, I was not expecting it. I knew it couple of days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it’s going to go official, so… I’m just surprised that they appealed,” Sinner said.
In his statement, the 23-year-old also underlined that he “had nothing to hide.”
Jannik Sinner© YouTube screenshot
Despite the WADA decision, the top-seeded Italian managed to reach the Beijing final before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a thriller final. While he was able to put up a big run at the China Open, it didn’t mean that he was at peace.
“First of all, it’s not a situation where I like to be in, no? It’s a very delicate and difficult and also different situation. But what I know is that I always try to remind myself that I haven’t done anything wrong, which already just gives you a little bit head up. For sure I had sleepless nights during this time. Now again it’s going to be not easy. It’s reminding you that this could happen potentially. Obviously disappointed that I am again in this situation. I just try to stay somehow focused on my work and trying to do everything possible I can to be ready for each match I play,” Sinner explained.
For the 2024 Australian Open champion, the ideal case scenario is that he wins the case before the start of the 2025 season. But according to some reports, Sinner won’t learn his fate until at least early 2025.