Jannik Sinner Doping Case: Casper Ruud backs Italian star, denies 'special treatment'

Jannik Sinner has qualified for the ATP Finals, while Casper Ruud is currently sixth in the list.

Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud has backed ATP World No. #1 Jannik Sinner in the latter’s doping controversy. The two-time Roland Garros runner-up also quashed all rumours of Sinner getting a special treatment after testing positive at the Indian Wells Masters in March.

Ruud said (via TV2) that Sinner dealt with the whole condition intelligently. He affirmed that reading the 33-page document by ITIA would clear all the doubts one can have about the Italian tennis star’s situation. Ruud also said that the 23-year-old came up with an explanation within 15 days of testing positive for the drug.

The Norwegian tennis star said, “If you have read the documents and understand the process in this type of case, then you understand that there is no discrimination here. What Sinner has done well, to defend himself, is that he managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive. He understood quite quickly where it came from.”

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Ruud further added, “There are not many athletes who manage to come up with an explanation within 15 days, but Jannik has managed it. It speaks in his favour that he quickly found out where the substance came from and that he has a reasonable explanation.”

Jannik Sinner tested positive for Clostebol in March, during the Indian Wells Masters. Clostebol is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS), which is derived from testosterone. He had a trace element of the substance in his body, which is less than a billionth of a gram.

As a result of the tests, he was stripped of his prize money and ranking points from his 2024 Indian Wells Masters. However, the topic came to light after the end of the Cincinnati Masters. Sinner uploaded a post on his social media accounts, which consisted of ITIA’s official statement about the case.

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However, amid the controversy, the Italian tennis star won US Open 2024, his second Grand Slam title. Sinner equalled Argentine icon Guillermo Vilas’ 47-year-old record by winning his two initial Grand Slam titles in the same year. In addition to that, he became the second youngest male tennis player to win the Australian Open and the US Open after Jimmy Connors in 1974.

Meanwhile, former US Open runner-up Casper Ruud was eliminated in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows by eventual finalist Taylor Fritz in four sets. Sinner has qualified for the ATP Finals, while Ruud is currently sixth in the list, 95 points behind fifth-placed Taylor Fritz.

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