- Tennis coach stands by player Sinner, denying any errors.
Tennis Coach Darren Cahill stands by Jannik Sinner after two doping test positives, saying there was no deliberate wrongdoing. "He wouldn't intentionally do anything like that. He was in a tricky situation," Cahill told ESPN in an interview. "The facts have been revealed, no fault or oversight, and hopefully, he can get past this."
Number one ranked Sinner tested positive for the outlawed anabolic steroid Clostebol twice in March. Yet, the 23-year-old dodges a two-year doping ban as an independent tribunal cleared him last Thursday, as per tennis' governing body, the ITIA. Medical professionals found Sinner's account believable, asserting he unintentionally ingested the banned substance.
In a statement, Sinner explained that the substance infiltrated his system through his physiotherapist's touch. The therapist used a Clostebol-infused spray, legally obtainable in Italy, to cure a finger wound. The ITIA confirmed that the therapist administered the spray between March 5 and 13, resulting in unintended contamination.
The positive samples were obtained on March 10 at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, where Sinner reached the semifinals, and eight days later off-court. Sinner was temporarily suspended each time but was able to appeal and carry on playing. "The reason he could compete after the brief suspended period is that they could identify precisely when the incident occurred and explain what happened with the spray," Cahill explained.
Withdrawal from Olympics due to Test Stress
Cahill revealed that the incident had a detrimental impact on Sinner's physical and mental health, causing him to withdraw from the Olympics due to a tonsil infection. "We're not asking for trouble. We're just relieved there's no ban," said the 58-year-old Canadian.
Despite the clearance from the independent tribunal, other athletes should be cautious when using treatments from external sources to avoid any unintended contamination. Sinner's case serves as a reminder that even legal substances can lead to doping positives if misused or mishandled.
