Sinner accepts settlement with WADA for 3 month ban

[Aussie Darcy]

It happened for Bortolotti man, he's a living counterexample of what you are claiming. How can you claiming that...

That’s the guy from the same country as Sinner who had the same drug and same excuse as Sinner right? Clostebol?

And Sinner didn’t fire the trainer who rubbed the dodgy cream he was warned about til 4.5 months later when the world finally got notified that Sinner doped (allegedly accidentally?)

Not suspicious at all right? Both guys were Clostebol right? Want to confirm that?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

20+ is not a lot out of many hundreds, the vast majority are keeping quiet I would say

5 active/former slam champs, Medvedev and more. I’d say it’s a lot. But hey keep defending him lol.

 

[Slapper]

Question.
If what Novak says is true - why is sinners fired trainer still on tour?

I would like to know if this is true. I guess they aren’t banned in the same way as, say, an abusive coach because what they did wasn’t abuse, rather a monumental f*ck up. And I guess there must be someone on tour who is willing to give them a second chance and take the risk with them? Maybe if the price is low enough, I don’t know. Personally, I wouldn’t.

 

[Rosstour]

Considering he hasn't since tested positive for PEDs, either he's not using them or the ones he's using aren't on the banned list.

That's why a blood or hair test should have been done. The urine test is the least comprehensive

 

[Drighiz]

5 active/former slam champs, Medvedev and more. I’d say it’s a lot. But hey keep defending him lol.

Honestly, I think I'm not even defending him because I'm a fan (which I am). I just think the whole thing is blown out of proportion, I believe I would feel the same no matter the player involved

 

[Slapper]

Brooksby immediately proved two of the three missed doping tests were on the anti doping agency.

But had to wait 9 months for his appeal to be heard which he actually won. But he had to sit bc he wasn’t a top 3 player.

Curious about this, as the ITIA website says something quite different: https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/brooksby-decision/

And on a side note (for anyone interested), Brooksby’s case also was resolved by ‘agreement’ (in this case with ITIA and WADA), resulting in a reduction from 18 months to 13 months (https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/jenson-brooksby-case-resolution/)

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Honestly, I think I'm not even defending him because I'm a fan (which I am). I just think the whole thing is blown out of proportion, I believe I would feel the same no matter the player involved

The inconsistency is the issue for me. I don’t want Sinner to face a life ban or 2 year ban. It’s more the fact he returns just in time for the French Open and even worse, just in time for his home Masters at the Italian Open. It’s so blatantly corrupt.

That isn’t Sinners fault. It’s just the shadiness of it all. And that’s why I agree with what Wawrinka said. I honestly probably would’ve been fine if he missed even just one slam as punishment. Just something to show we aren’t ok with doping. Intentional or not.

It’s ruined the image of tennis. Just makes me sad.

 

[smalahove]

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in 2017 (iirc) Therese Johaug, a Norwegian cross country skier got an 18 months ban from all competition and organized training. She tested positive for the exact same substance as Sinner, Clostebol. Her story is remarkably similar to Sinners, as her doctor bought her a lip balm (in Italy) for her damaged lips, that contained Clostebol (but didn't require a prescription). The doctor in question admitted it was his fault. The big difference though is that they found she had 13* nanogram per mL of Clostebol in her body, whereas Sinner had 121** (and 122) picogram per mL, i.e. 0,121 nanogram per mL.

* https://www.dn.no/skisport/therese-...haug-i-kroppen/2-1-33379?zephr_sso_ott=GZU4kS
**https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...-case-explained-timeline-tennis-b2698792.html

 

[NaDjoFed]

It is finally over. In my opinion, the anti-doping system should be concerned with catching dopers. Dopers are those who are trying to improve their performance via illegal substances. The WADA's appeal was ridicolous in the first place, they even admitted that and came up with this 3 months deal at the end. They will even change the rules starting from 2027 after the Sinner's case.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Curious about this, as the ITIA website says something quite different: https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/brooksby-decision/

And on a side note (for anyone interested), Brooksby’s case also was resolved by ‘agreement’ (in this case with ITIA and WADA), resulting in a reduction from 18 months to 13 months (https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/jenson-brooksby-case-resolution/)

The funny thing is, Brooskby accepted a plea deal just like Sinner did. Not necessarily because he was guilty but he wanted to return. But he got 13 months while Sinner got a cute 3 month ban between slams. Just favouritism. And he didn’t even test positive! Just obvious favouritism.

 

[Drighiz]

The inconsistency is the issue for me. I don’t want Sinner to face a life ban or 2 year ban. It’s more the fact he returns just in time for the French Open and even worse, just in time for his home Masters at the Italian Open. It’s so blatantly corrupt.

That isn’t Sinners fault. It’s just the shadiness of it all. And that’s why I agree with what Wawrinka said. I honestly probably would’ve been fine if he missed even just one slam as punishment.

It’s ruined the image of tennis. Just makes me sad.

I get it. But I just don't interpret it as corruption. To me it simply means that WADA didn't have a leg to stand on, and they had to agree to this. Sinner, on his part, is doing an arguably honorable (and of course convenient) thing by accepting a suspension that wasn't imposed by any tribunal... I'm at peace with this resolution, although I would have preferred for him to be cleared officially by the CAS

 

[NaDjoFed]

The funny thing is, Brooskby accepted a plea deal just like Sinner did. Not necessarily because he was guilty but he wanted to return. But he got 13 months while Sinner got a cute 3 month ban between slams. Just favouritism. And he didn’t even test positive! Just obvious favouritism.

what is the right ban for non-intentional doping / contamination with no performance enhancing?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I get it. But I just don't interpret it as corruption. To me it simply means that WADA didn't have a leg to stand on, and they had to agree to this. Sinner, on his part, is doing an arguably honorable (and of course convenient) thing by accepting a suspension that wasn't imposed by any tribunal... I'm at peace with this resolution, although I would have preferred for him to be cleared officially by the CAS

We’ve discussed this and people have said Halep didn’t follow the legal procedures that Sinner did but Simona ended up with the same result as Sinner, completely cleared. But she was benched for 2 years and her career ruined. Sinner got to win 2 slams and will be #1 at the end of this ban. That’s why people including me say this will be a stain on the sport.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

what is the right ban for non-intentional doping / contamination with no performance enhancing?

Not a cute 3 month ban right after he wins a slam and then allows him to return right before the next slam and just in time for his home Masters.

What made it 3 months and not 4 or 5? How did it work out SO PERFECTLY that he returns just in time for the Italian Open and French Open? Not a single slam missed? Don’t you find that odd?

 

[Drighiz]

We’ve discussed this and people have said Halep didn’t follow the legal procedures that Sinner did but Simona ended up with the same result as Sinner, completely cleared. But she was benched for 2 years and her career ruined. Sinner got to win 2 slams and will be #1 at the end of this ban. That’s why people including me say this will be a stain on the sport.

And I quite agree that she got hard done

 

[Slapper]

20+ is not a lot out of many hundreds, the vast majority are keeping quiet I would say

And in any case it really doesn’t matter if it’s 20+, 40+, 100+ etc. It doesn’t change the facts. When I listen to these ATP/WTA players who can’t understand the outcome or complain about it, it’s painfully obvious from the comments they make and the questions they ask that they know very little about the rules or the facts of the case. With the exception of Eubanks and Ruud, it’s clear that practically none of them have read and understood the relevant documents. In that respect they are not much different from most people here.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

And I quite agree that she got hard done

And perhaps that’s why WADA have done it this way, but geez they could have at least made the ban 4-5 months and make him miss just one slam. Having him return just in time for the next slam and his home masters is so obvious that it’s corrupt. My opinion of course but geez.

 

[NaDjoFed]

Not a cute 3 month ban right after someone wins a slam and then allows them to return right before the next slam and just in time for their home Masters.

What made it 3 months and not 4? How did it work out SO PERFECTLY that he returns just in time for the Italian Open and French Open? Not a single slam missed? Don’t you find that odd?

the odd thing in my opinion is that the World Anti Doping Agency (that should catch dopers around the world) waste time and resources to appeal the decision of an Independent International Tribunal for a case of negligence.

 

[1H-Backhand]

This is always part of the conspiracy theory.

In reality, when a plea deal is reached, it is because the accusing party asks for a plea deal while looking after its own interests.
Saying that Wada would have won the appeal if it had gone to the end has no relevant evidence.

In similar situations it is always the accusing party who offers the plea bargain.
This is the basis, then to reach the conclusion of the agreement both parties must reach a fair compromise of interests.

If Sinner had been offered a 3-month ban to be served in a less convenient period including the impossibility of participating in one or more slams, he would never have signed that agreement and Wada would have been left holding the bag.

They are called agreements for this very reason.
Instead, here some want to convey the concept that only one party's interests were taken care of in this agreement.
Again, this is all part of the usual conspiracy theory, and the earth is not flat but is round

There seem to be quite a few flat earthers around here....it feels like talking to a wall mate

 

[Drighiz]

And perhaps that’s why WADA have done it this way, but geez they could have at least made the ban 4-5 months and make him miss just one slam. Having him return just in time for the next slam and his home masters is so obvious that it’s corrupt. My opinion of course but geez.

In hindsight, it would have probably been better for Sinner to make it 4 months and skip RG

 

[Slapper]

Halep seems to be your go to. So I’ll list the others.
Troicki, Gasquet, Tara Moore, Purcell, Ymer, Brooskby.

As I’ve said. Over 20 ATP and WTA players have slammed this inconsistency. This isn’t some random user here on TTW.

They have labelled Sinner as protected.

Countless male and female slam champions both active and former on tour.

I really don’t care who or how many people have slammed it. Being a pro tennis player doesn’t automatically make you knowledgeable on these matters, and tour players have demonstrated that over and over. And even if every single pro player slammed it, that wouldn’t change the facts.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I really don’t care who or how many people have slammed it. Being a pro tennis player doesn’t automatically make you knowledgeable on these matters, and tour players have demonstrated that over and over. And even if every single pro player slammed it, that wouldn’t change the facts.

Banning someone you’ve found guilty of doping (intentional or not) and letting them return just in time for the next slam and also their home Masters is so obviously corrupt. Come on, tell me you don’t see that?

Or do you really think this is all just happened to work out so perfectly timing wise? Sinner played through both doping investigations, won 2 slams, gets the ban right after winning a slam but will return just in time for the next slam and his Italian Open?

How lucky!??

 

[Winner Sinner]

Sinner did not immediately fire the members of his staff responsible for the contamination for the simple reason that the news of the positive cases from practice until the final sentence of the first degree trial had to remain in the utmost confidentiality.

If he had made the decision to fire Ferrara and Naldi, surely someone, no longer seeing them in his box, would have started to ask him for explanations as to why he no longer took the two with him.

It is no coincidence that only Vagnozzi and Cahill were present in both Montreal and Cincinnati because the sentence was now imminent.

Using a little logical reasoning every now and then wouldn't hurt anyone.

Having said that, enough is enough, flat earthers, masters of conspiracy, should be left to their beliefs.
There is a limit to everything, and I have far exceeded my limit of patience in responding to certain conspiracy lovers.
You won by exhaustion.
Remain clinging to your beliefs which will not change anything in the history of the matter, that is, no favoritism, no accusation for having intentionally tried to dope to improve one's performance.
In 3 months Sinner will be back playing, and you'll just have to accept it.
Everything else is boring.

 

[Drighiz]

in 2017 (iirc) Therese Johaug, a Norwegian cross country skier got an 18 months ban from all competition and organized training. She tested positive for the exact same substance as Sinner, Clostebol. Her story is remarkably similar to Sinners, as her doctor bought her a lip balm (in Italy) for her damaged lips, that contained Clostebol (but didn't require a prescription). The doctor in question admitted it was his fault. The big difference though is that they found she had 13* nanogram per mL of Clostebol in her body, whereas Sinner had 121** (and 122) picogram per mL, i.e. 0,121 nanogram per mL.

* https://www.dn.no/skisport/therese-...haug-i-kroppen/2-1-33379?zephr_sso_ott=GZU4kS
**https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...-case-explained-timeline-tennis-b2698792.html

Hmmm yeah but you can see how there is a fundamental difference between the two in the fact that she used the product herself (hence the much larger dose detected). That's not contamination from someone else. It's a very unfortunate mistake.

 

[Slapper]

The funny thing is, Brooskby accepted a plea deal just like Sinner did. Not necessarily because he was guilty but he wanted to return. But he got 13 months while Sinner got a cute 3 month ban between slams. Just favouritism. And he didn’t even test positive! Just obvious favouritism.

The really funny part about it is that so many people (not necessarily you, I don’t know) think the favouritism is exemplified in Sinner settling the case by agreement, as if he is the only athlete to ever do this, despite many examples of other tennis players doing same.

Like I said before, the difference in outcomes (13 months vs 3 months) is due to the very different circumstances and facts surrounding the two cases, and how they relate to the applicable rules. But I can tell there is absolutely nothing I can do or say to get this point across.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The really funny part about it is that so many people (not necessarily you, I don’t know) think the favouritism is exemplified in Sinner settling the case by agreement, as if he is the only athlete to ever do this, despite many examples of other tennis players doing same.

Like I said before, the difference in outcomes (13 months vs 3 months) is due to the very different circumstances and facts surrounding the two cases, and how they relate to the applicable rules. But I can tell there is absolutely nothing I can do or say to get this point across.

Come on, surely you realize the timing of this. The #1 male in the world who got to play on during the investigation and wins two slams during the process gets given the ban right after he wins the Australian Open and will be allowed to return right in time before the next slam where he’s going for 3 in a row.

Can you honestly tell me if this was #226 Filip Jianu that he’d be given that option? They’ve only done it for Sinner. And that’s where the issue is. It’s corrupt, it’s dodgy, call it out and own it. Don’t play dumb.

 

[Slapper]

Banning someone you’ve found guilty of doping (intentional or not) and letting them return just in time for the next slam and also their home Masters is so obviously corrupt. Come on, tell me you don’t see that?

Or do you really think this is all just happened to work out so perfectly timing wise? Sinner played through both doping investigations, won 2 slams, gets the ban right after winning a slam but will return just in time for the next slam and his Italian Open?

How lucky!??

I don’t see that. What I see is that you keep asking the same questions and making the same arguments that have been thoroughly answered and refuted over and over. So I think I would have to echo Winner Sinner above: you win by exhaustion.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I don’t see that. What I see is that you keep asking the same questions and making the same arguments that have been thoroughly answered and refuted over and over. So I think I would have to echo Winner Sinner above: you win by exhaustion.

Do you think if all of this happened to #226 Filip Jianu he’d get the same treatment? Truly?

If you say yes I’ll accept your post. If you truly believe and say he’d be be given all this leniency that Sinner got than ok, that’s your belief. I personally don’t.

 

[Slapper]

Come on, surely you realize the timing of this. The #1 male in the world who got to play on during the investigation and wins two slams during the process gets given the ban right after he wins the Australian Open and will be allowed to return right in time before the next slam where he’s going for 3 in a row.

Can you honestly tell me if this was #226 Filip Jianu that he’d be given that option? They’ve only done it for Sinner. And that’s where the issue is. It’s corrupt, it’s dodgy, call it out and own it. Don’t play dumb.

I can honestly tell you that if this was Marco Bortolotti, he wouldn’t even get a suspension.

I’m out for now.

 

[a10best]

Their rule book states a minimum ban of one year. That's accurate enough. WADA just tore up the rule book.

Possibly because those rules were established in the early 2000s; just guessing.
A 1-year ban would've been detrimental to men's tennis because not many casual fans wants to see Med & Zed slam semis or finals.
From what dates did Jannik test positive?

I doubt if Nadal or Djokovic tested positive they'd serve a 1 yr suspension during their early 20s and peak years either.
WADA or whichever governing org. would've found a shorter period for the fans.

This settlement could mean tennis is starting to follow major sports with lesser suspensions for their major stars/top players because popularity is waning (maybe due to no Rafa/Fed and PB?) so fan attendance is crucial.

IMO, Sinner is truly a top 2 player in this era with or w/o testing positive. He's not Lance Armstrong. Although, I don't have enough knowledge to debate how it may or may not have benefitted him outside of faster recovery.

 

[Arak]

The world has changed. The use of drugs has progressed from being outrageous, to kind of tolerable, to totally mundane and casual these days. We have changed, but maybe not to the better.

 

[Lauren_Girl']

in 2017 (iirc) Therese Johaug, a Norwegian cross country skier got an 18 months ban from all competition and organized training. She tested positive for the exact same substance as Sinner, Clostebol. Her story is remarkably similar to Sinners, as her doctor bought her a lip balm (in Italy) for her damaged lips, that contained Clostebol (but didn't require a prescription). The doctor in question admitted it was his fault. The big difference though is that they found she had 13* nanogram per mL of Clostebol in her body, whereas Sinner had 121** (and 122) picogram per mL, i.e. 0,121 nanogram per mL.

* https://www.dn.no/skisport/therese-...haug-i-kroppen/2-1-33379?zephr_sso_ott=GZU4kS
**https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...-case-explained-timeline-tennis-b2698792.html

I was a huge Johaug fan and cross-country fan in general. That closebol story still haunts me today. Her version of story wasn't more or less far-fetched than Sinner yet she got banned for 18 months, missed world championships and Olympics Games. Today she is back after a maternity leave and still beating everyone (like in the ski tour in January). I don't know what to think of her. But at least she paid enough, whether she's guilty or not.

 

[Bartelby]

If WADA simply halved their penalties things would be easier. When someone vital to the sport gets pinged they suddenly realise sport can't afford long bans.

Possibly because those rules were established in the early 2000s; just guessing.
A 1-year ban would've been detrimental to men's tennis because not many casual fans wants to see Med & Zed slam semis or finals.
From what dates did Jannik test positive?

I doubt if Nadal or Djokovic tested positive they'd serve a 1 yr suspension during their early 20s and peak years either.
WADA or whichever governing org. would've found a shorter period for the fans.

This settlement could mean tennis is starting to follow major sports with lesser suspensions for their major stars/top players because popularity is waning (maybe due to no Rafa/Fed and PB?) so fan attendance is crucial.

IMO, Sinner is truly a top 2 player in this era with or w/o testing positive. He's not Lance Armstrong. Although, I don't have enough knowledge to debate how it may or may not have benefitted him outside of faster recovery.

 

[flyneurologist]

I can honestly tell you that if this was Marco Bortolotti, he wouldn’t even get a suspension.

I’m out for now.

Yeah isn’t this case also a low rank tennis player who was absolved for the same substance but never get re-appealed by WADA ?

 

[FreeJannik]

What has changed is the analytical possibilities of the tests, if rules doesn’t change soon the ”war against doping” will become a witch hunt, wich is what we have seen with Sinner. Wada have realized it, see the 2027 rules update, but have still preferred to persecute Sinner because for the rule in force, even if wrong, he’s “guilty”.

 

[1H-Backhand]

A clear and valid explanation was provided to you as to why the outcome for Halep was different. The key point is that it wasn’t ‘inconsistency’ or ‘smoke and mirrors’; rather the outcome was different because the circumstances and facts of the case were different. When you don’t acknowledge this and instead immediately point to the ‘countless others’, it seems like a blatant attempt to move the goal posts. Like Halep, each of the ‘countless others’ had difference circumstances and facts surrounding the case, hence different outcomes. You can’t reasonably expect anyone on this forum to hand feed you the explanation for the outcome of every case you should wish to name given: a) that info is publicly available and you can easily find it yourself; and b) there seems to be a high chance that you’ll just keep shifting the goal posts each time.

I admire your effort but I think you might be fighting a losing battle, delusional people cannot be helped even when you try and feed them all the right information. They will keep believing whatever rubbish their mind wants to believe. I tried as well but he seems beyond help so I will let it go and move on.

 

[Drighiz]

I was a huge Johaug fan and cross-country fan in general. That closebol story still haunts me today. Her version of story wasn't more or less far-fetched than Sinner yet she got banned for 18 months, missed world championships and Olympics Games. Today she is back after a maternity leave and still beating everyone (like in the ski tour in January). I don't know what to think of her. But at least she paid enough, whether she's guilty or not.

As much as I can sympathise with her misfortune, she had 100x the concentration of clostebol than Sinner due to the fact that she used the product directly on herself, rather than being contaminated by someone who had used it on themselves. There's an important degree of accountability between "use" and "contamination".

 

[Bartelby]

The "war against doping" has always been a witch hunt. Sinner was granted a "free pass" and that's the problem.

What has changed is the analytical possibilities of the tests, if rules doesn’t change soon the ”war against doping” will become a witch hunt, wich is what we have seen with Sinner. Wada have realized it, see the 2027 rules update, but have still preferred to persecute Sinner because for the rule in force, even if wrong, he’s “guilty”.

 

[Winner Sinner]

Meanwhile, to Corriere della Sera, the president of the Italian tennis and padel federation, Angelo Binaghi, spoke about the emotions of the South Tyrolean after the confirmation of his plea deal with Wada. The 23-year-old's response, as revealed by Binaghi, consists only of an emoji. “Jannik alerted me to the agreement with Wada – he said -. Just as he told me about the Clostebol case. We had discussed it in recent months. Objective achieved. I felt relief, even if the sense of injustice remains: the ordeal of enduring this situation since last year was already an excessive punishment for Jannik. However, in this way he saved Roma, the three Majors, the ATP Finals and remained in the running for the Grand Slam. Danger averted."

And again: "Three months of stoppage are compatible with a calm management of the season - added Binaghi to Corriere della Sera -. Nothing traumatic or prejudicial to the future happens. 2025 will also be a particular year. Patience: it is the right handicap that the strongest of all grants to the rest of the world. Jannik gives three Master 1000s to his rivals". Then Sinner's reaction to the message: "I wrote to him 'I know it's a great injustice, but you did very well to accept the agreement with Wada' - concluded the president of Fit - He replied with the emoji of clasped hands.

 

[RSJfan]

Just follow the money.

Sinner, a whopping $150 m deal with Nike.

Halep $2 m yearly.

Who do you think will get more protection from the almighty Nike?

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

The "war against doping" has always been a witch hunt. Sinner was granted a "free pass" and that's the problem.

To call this a witch hunt is inaccurate, an insult to scientific testing and insensitive to the many thousands of innocent witches executed.
The enforcement of doping violations is always grounded on solid scientific evidence, such as positive tests. Witch hunts, by contrast, are rooted in superstition and baseless accusations.
You believe there are issues with fairness in how sanctions are applied, but that’s not a witch hunt.
Let’s not conflate criticisms of the system with unfounded claims of persecution.

18 Reasons One is Executed for Witchcraft during the 'Burning Times'

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, a moral panic spread through large parts of Europe and North America. People were seeing witches everywhere. Even the slightest problem was blamed on witchcraft, from a horse falling lame to a child falling ill. As the panic spread, self-proclaimed experts...

historycollection.com

 

[1H-Backhand]

To all those that are giving tennis a bad look by accusing Sinner of anything, watch from minute 9.00 onwards...

 

[jmnk]

@Winner Sinner - i really admire your efforts here. Honestly. I too think that there's absolutely nothing out of ordinary in how Sinner case had been handled.

Or to be exact - I _thought_ that everything was going by the book until that agreement was announced. But that's where it stopped making sense.

WADA correctly appealed the Itia verdict. Because Sinner does have some responsibility. He even admitted that now. There was no reason to not let CAS make the final verdict. Even if CAS sided with Sinner it would not be a bad look for WADA - it would not be the first time WADA lost at CAS hearing. It was not the first time where WADA appealed initial ruling.
It is also not the first time where WADA reached an agreement with the player before the hearing at CAS.

It is however the first time (I think) where the agreement was reached such that initial _no suspension_ verdict was turned into (with the player's ok) _some suspension_

That makes me think few things.

Sinner was not at all confident that CAS would upheld no suspension verdict. So instead of risking up to 12months ban he agreed to 3 months.

Someone realized that CAS in fact can rule like maybe 6 to 12 months suspension. And put wheels in motion to avoid that via having that agreement done. I can't see any reason why WADA didn't just let CAS handle it. There could only be positives: WADA can say they tried, and whatever CAS we to rule would be a precedence for future liked cases.

Then what's the story with having the suspension start on the 9th, but have it announced few days later. Which led to that bizarre story of sinner practicing at the tournament while he was suspended. So even he found out only on the 14th? Like how is it possible to have a player suspended and he doesn't even know?

The Article of the code they cited as the basis of the agreement reducing penalty states that such agreement is possible when a player promptly admits to a violation. Well, he never did, not until the agreement was reached.

This agreement also means that both WADA and Sinner now agree that ITIA tribunal doesn't know what they are doing because clearly their decision of no fault at all was incorrect. _that_ is actually a really bad look.

To me everything starting with that agreement does look like preferential treatment. Not before. But now it does seem so.

 

[Mike Sams]

The inconsistency is the issue for me. I don’t want Sinner to face a life ban or 2 year ban. It’s more the fact he returns just in time for the French Open and even worse, just in time for his home Masters at the Italian Open. It’s so blatantly corrupt.

That isn’t Sinners fault. It’s just the shadiness of it all. And that’s why I agree with what Wawrinka said. I honestly probably would’ve been fine if he missed even just one slam as punishment. Just something to show we aren’t ok with doping. Intentional or not.

It’s ruined the image of tennis. Just makes me sad.

What image of tennis? Everyone knows Nadal and Djokovic have been doping for years and never got caught. Go look at Nadal's 2013 season and Novak's 2015 season. No other player in history maintains this level of endurance for the duration of a season, let alone winning tournament after tournament after tournament while every other player is exhausted from playing 2 tournaments back to back. What you think? That just because those two guys never got caught means they were clean?

 

[jeroenn]

ent reducing penalty states that such agreement is possible when a player promptly admits to a violation. Well, he never did, not until the agreement was reached.

This is not correct - he did admit a violtation, right from the start. This is why he could susccesfully appeal his original provisional suspension - he admitted it and could explain the circumstances.
Sinner hasn't chanced his position during any of this. And if I understand correctly, he could theoretically get up to 2 years from Cas. So his choice was 3 months for sure, or maybe anything from nothing to two years.
Also, the original ITIA result was not 'nothing' - he had to forgo price money and points asif he didn't participate in that tournament during which he tested postivie.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

To all those that are giving tennis a bad look by accusing Sinner of anything, watch from minute 9.00 onwards...

Nikola's take on this makes more sense. "WADA had a very weak case that they were probably going to lose".
Others are opining that WADA had a very strong winnable case but chose to back down due to political pressure.
Don't buy that. The initial Tribunal decision was sound and CAS would have very likely upheld it.

 

[jmnk]

This is not correct - he did admit a violtation, right from the start. This is why he could susccesfully appeal his original provisional suspension - he admitted it and could explain the circumstances.
Sinner hasn't chanced his position during any of this. And if I understand correctly, he could theoretically get up to 2 years from Cas. So his choice was 3 months for sure, or maybe anything from nothing to two years.
Also, the original ITIA result was not 'nothing' - he had to forgo price money and points asif he didn't participate in that tournament during which he tested postivie.

The violation in question isn't the fact he tested positive. It is whether he bears any responsibility for the actions of his team. He argued he does not, ITIA agreed, which is why he got no suspension. Because he was found 'no fault or negligence'
And he did change his position now. Now he agreed that he was somewhat responsible, and because he was he agreed to suspension.
The loss of prize money and points is automatic any time you fail the test, there's nothing to argue about here. That happens even if you are at no fault at all.

 

[jeroenn]

Kinda - kinda not. But this is nitpicking a bit in detail I suppose.

He argued both "No fault or negligence" and in the alternatieve "No significant fault or negligence" - see point 7 in the ITIA PDF.
The definition of both don't exclude the provision that the player is ultimately responsible - that remains always so he didn't contest that.

 

[1H-Backhand]

Nikola's take on this makes more sense. "WADA had a very weak case that they were probably going to lose".
Others are opining that WADA had a very strong winnable case but chose to back down due to political pressure.
Don't buy that. The initial Tribunal decision was sound and CAS would have very likely upheld it.

He was also very quick to realise the mistake he made on his previous video when he jumped to conclusions without fully considering the facts (which is what all of Sinner's detractors do on here).

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

And he did change his position now. Now he agreed that he was somewhat responsible, and because he was he agreed to suspension.

It was a risk-averse situation. Sinner, while believing he had a very winnable case, did not want to risk CAS imposing a 6 months or longer ban.
So why not accept the 3 month deal?
It is generally best to avoid trials in the first place. And while the CAS is not a trial court, that principle still applies.

Do not see that Sinner has admitted to any responsibility or changed his position beyond that of his position in the first-instance Tribunal.

WADA explicitly stated in its resolution announcement that it accepted Sinner's explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first-instance decision.
WADA confirmed that Sinner did not intend to cheat, gained no performance-enhancing advantage, and was unaware of the contamination caused by his entourage's negligence.
This aligns with the findings of the Tribunal and does not indicate any new admissions of responsibility.