Kyrgios slams ‘RIDICULOUS’ name to not ban Sinner for failed exams
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios believes it is ‘ridiculous’ Jannik Sinner escaped a ban for failing two anti-doping tests.
Sinner tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol during the Indian Wells tournament on March 10 and then again just eight days later.
The Italian was provisionally suspended but successfully appealed and was eligible to keep playing on the ATP tour while the International Tennis Integrity unit assessed all the evidence.
Sinner’s explanation for the banned substance entering his system was due to his physio Umberto Ferrara using a spray that contained clostebol to treat a wound on the tennis star’s finger.
The 23-year-old’s team explained Ferrara had purchased the spray in Italy, one of the few countries that allows people to purchase products containing clostebol over-the-counter.
Nick Kyrgios was not happy that Sinner escaped suspension after failing two drug tests
Sinner was tested during Indian Wells and tested positive for the banned substance clostebol
Nick Kyrgios took aim at Sinner on social media and called for the Italian to be suspended
However, Kyrgios was not buying the explanation and called for Sinner to be suspended.
‘Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned,’ Kyrgios wrote on X.
‘You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years.
‘Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice’.
The news of Sinner’s failed tests was announced on Tuesday by the International Tennis Integrity unit, who declared Sinner was at ‘no fault or negligence’.
However, Sinner was docked 400 ranking points as well as $250,000 dollars, the amount of ranking points and prize money he earned at Indian Wells.
The investigation found Sinner had a miniscule amount of clostebol in his system, equivalent to less than a billionth of a gram.
‘There is no suggestion the tiny concentration in his system would have had any performance enhancing effect,’ the tribunal said.
News of the Italian tennis star’s failed tests came just days after he won the Cincinnati Open
Sinner now turns his focus to the US Open as he looks to win his second grand slam this year
In a statement, Sinner said: ‘I will now put this very challenging and hugely unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.’
Sinner’s attention now turns towards the US Open, which commences on August 26.
