Winner Sinner
Hall of Fame
Spokesman (Wada) James Fitgerald spoke to the Corriere della Sera explaining that the body approached the lawyers of Jannik Sinner on two occasions.
The first at the end of January and the second in the first days of February. Mediation began there for the three-month agreement, which was then signed on Friday the 14th.
In the Courier article, Fitzgerald explained the reason for the sanction of only three months, despite a heavier sentence initially requested: “Wada realized that 12 months would not have been appropriate for such a particular case, arising from very specific circumstances (the reference is to the substance and the minimum quantity found in the tennis player's urine, ed.) — his words — It is for cases like that of Sinner that article 10.8.2 of the Wada code was introduced in the 2021”. The plea agreement satisfies both parties: “We see the principle of the athlete's responsibility towards team members reaffirmed, and the athlete does not receive an unduly harsh sanction,” added the spokesperson.
In short, the American's words make it clear that Sinner is the only one to have paid this fine. The article also explains that it was the former trainer Umberto Ferrara who brought the banned substance to the US, placing it in the bathroom of his room in the shared villa in Indian Wells. While the former physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi used it without the required precautions.
They too, however, were subject to compliance with the code, as article 2.9 of the Wada regulation explains: "Anyone who is part of an athlete's staff must not 'provide assistance, encouragement, help, instigate, conceal or facilitate any other type of intentional complicity or attempted complicity in relation to any violation or attempted violation of the code'". Nor (art. 2.6.2): “Possessing any substance or any prohibited method, unless justified by a therapeutic authorization granted to the athlete assisting or other valid motivation”.
But Wada maintains that any responsibilities of the two "are the responsibility of ITIA or Nado Italia", our anti-doping agency. Itia judges and sanctions "support staff" in cases of match fixing and corruption, Nado deals with violations of the Code. It appears to Al Corriere that Nado assessed the position of Ferrara and Naldi, but proceedings were not opened because, based on the reasons for the Itia acquittal, the element of intentionality would be missing. Finally, a thought on Sinner's sanction, which he has been serving since February 9th. Jannik risks nothing for having trained in Doha until the 14th, given that “the sanction was not yet finalised”. But he sees his "sports" record irremediably soiled, and in the event of a new positive result, a doubled sentence will come.
The first at the end of January and the second in the first days of February. Mediation began there for the three-month agreement, which was then signed on Friday the 14th.
In the Courier article, Fitzgerald explained the reason for the sanction of only three months, despite a heavier sentence initially requested: “Wada realized that 12 months would not have been appropriate for such a particular case, arising from very specific circumstances (the reference is to the substance and the minimum quantity found in the tennis player's urine, ed.) — his words — It is for cases like that of Sinner that article 10.8.2 of the Wada code was introduced in the 2021”. The plea agreement satisfies both parties: “We see the principle of the athlete's responsibility towards team members reaffirmed, and the athlete does not receive an unduly harsh sanction,” added the spokesperson.
In short, the American's words make it clear that Sinner is the only one to have paid this fine. The article also explains that it was the former trainer Umberto Ferrara who brought the banned substance to the US, placing it in the bathroom of his room in the shared villa in Indian Wells. While the former physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi used it without the required precautions.
They too, however, were subject to compliance with the code, as article 2.9 of the Wada regulation explains: "Anyone who is part of an athlete's staff must not 'provide assistance, encouragement, help, instigate, conceal or facilitate any other type of intentional complicity or attempted complicity in relation to any violation or attempted violation of the code'". Nor (art. 2.6.2): “Possessing any substance or any prohibited method, unless justified by a therapeutic authorization granted to the athlete assisting or other valid motivation”.
But Wada maintains that any responsibilities of the two "are the responsibility of ITIA or Nado Italia", our anti-doping agency. Itia judges and sanctions "support staff" in cases of match fixing and corruption, Nado deals with violations of the Code. It appears to Al Corriere that Nado assessed the position of Ferrara and Naldi, but proceedings were not opened because, based on the reasons for the Itia acquittal, the element of intentionality would be missing. Finally, a thought on Sinner's sanction, which he has been serving since February 9th. Jannik risks nothing for having trained in Doha until the 14th, given that “the sanction was not yet finalised”. But he sees his "sports" record irremediably soiled, and in the event of a new positive result, a doubled sentence will come.
