'Justice is justice' - Rafael Nadal backs Jannik Sinner on doping fiasco

Jannik Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals of US Open 2024.

Rafael Nadal has backed ITIA and Jannik Sinner amidst the doping controversy revolving around the 23-year-old Italian star.

Last month, after Sinner won the 2024 Cincinnati Open, he took to social media and shared the official statement by ITIA. In the post, it was stated that Sinner’s doping test came positive twice during the Indian Wells Masters 2024 in March.

As per the aforementioned report, he tested positive for Clostebol, a banned substance. 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. After the report was revealed, the likes of Nick Kyrgios, Liam Broady, and Denis Shapovalov also took to social media and fired shots at the 23-year-old.

ALSO READ: Top three tennis players who escaped doping ban ft. Jannik Sinner, Andre Agassi & more

They stated that Sinner was treated differently because he was the ATP World No. #1. The cases of Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep were also brought out by the tennis world. Nevertheless, Nadal has come forward in support of the Italian tennis star and has refuted the claims of Sinner getting a different treatment.

He said, “I have a virtue or a defect, which is that I believe in the good faith of people. I know Sinner and I don’t think he wanted to dope. Justice is justice and I don’t think we have to like it only when it is resolved in the way we think. I believe in the bodies that have to make decisions and they make them based on what they believe is correct.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion added, “I trust that if he has not been sanctioned it is because those who have had to judge this case have clearly seen that what happened was not punishable. I don’t think they have judged him as innocent simply because he is the world #1. Everyone’s opinion is respectable and mine is this.”

Rafa Nadal says he doesn’t believe Jannik Sinner wanted to dope, ‘I don’t think they judged him as innocent simply because he’s world #1’“I have a virtue or a defect, which is that I believe in the good faith of people. I know Sinner and I don’t think he wanted to dope. Justice… pic.twitter.com/cI1NUeaut5

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 2, 2024

However, the Italian has continued to perform better on the tour. He will face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals of the 2024 US Open. Medvedev leads Sinner 7-5 in their head-to-head record. They last faced each other in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram