Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Photo credit: Miami Open/Hard Rock Stadium
Daniel Medvedev he is chasing Jannik Sinner in level competition, but he doesn’t want to be in the world of No. 1 shoes as his doping case took another turn.
WADA is appealing Sinner’s case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport—and is seeking a one- to two-year ban from the world No. 1.
More: WADA Appeals Over Fishing Allegation, Seeks World 1 Ban
“It is WADA’s view that the finding of “no fault or negligence” was incorrect under the applicable rules,” WADA said in a statement on Saturday. “WADA wants a period of ineligibility between one and two years. “WADA does not want any results to be revoked, except those already imposed by the original body.”
Asked about his opinion on the Beijing issue, Medvedev called it a “difficult situation” and said he believed that other players had different opinions on Sinner’s situation.
“I would think that the idea, like everything in life, some think it should be banned, even if, others think no, it shouldn’t,” Medvedev told reporters in Beijing. “My idea is always in these things to try to distance myself when the situation is very difficult for him, so that he can deal with it.
“As I’ve always said, nobody wants to be in this situation because, I said it at the US Open press, I think tomorrow you get an email, because I think it’s an email, you fail your doping test. They say whatever the reason is, like cocaine or some drug that you don’t even know the name of You’re like, Wow, what do I do now because I don’t know how it happened to be in urine, blood, or whatever.
“So, yeah, it’s a tough situation.”
Reigning US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner said he was disappointed by WADA’s complaint. Sinner, who twice tested positive for metabolites of the banned steroid clostebol, was allowed to continue playing after successfully appealing twice, eventually receiving a “no-fault” decision from an independent tribunal.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed and surprised,” Sinner told reporters in Beijing. “We had three hearings. “All three of these hearings treated me well. Maybe they want to make sure everything is going the right way.”
WADA appeals against tennis player Jannik Sinner. Read more here:
– WADA (@wada_ama) September 28, 2024
2021 US Open champion Medvedev, who lost to Sinner in the 2024 AO final, said he “sympathizes” with the two-time Grand Slam champion, but does not believe the case is hurting tennis.
“I want to say that he is doing what he has to do. WADA is doing almost what he has to do,” said Medvedev. “Let’s see how it will end, we thought maybe it was over but no.
“Yes, I am like Carlos [Alcaraz]. I feel for Jannik. I don’t think there’s a bad, really bad look in tennis because I think, yeah, if 10 of the top 10 players were suddenly in the same thing or something, it would be different. I think it’s an individual situation that we’ll see how it ends.”
