Jannik Sinner’s highly controversial doping saga finally concluded with the Italian opting for an out-of-court settlement with WADA and accepting a 3-month long suspension. It has helped him escape a major career threat, but all things come at a price. This verdict has now sidelined Sinner from four ATP Master 1000, which means he is all set to lose 1600 ranking points. Yet, it hasn’t silenced the skeptics. From players to coaches, everyone seems dissatisfied with the way the whole process unfolded. Not everyone is against Sinner per se, but the lack of transparency in the process has left them unimpressed. The latest addition to the list is Serena Williams‘ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

It all started when Sinner failed the dope tests twice and tested positive for Clostebol at the Indian Wells in March. He was handed a provisional suspension of 8 days initially by the ITIA, but he appealed against the decision, and with an independent tribunal looking into the matter, he was allowed to compete on the tour. The tribunal later let him off without a ban, as they decided that the contamination was unintentional and Sinner bore no fault or negligence. But, that was not the end of the story! The case reopened with WADA challenging the ITIA’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) seeking a ban of up to two years for the World No. 1.

However, with Sinner opting for an out-of-court settlement now, WADA has withdrawn the case, which means after serving a 3-month long suspension agreed upon by the two parties, Sinner will be back competing on the tour again. With the opinions pouring in from all quarters, Patrick Mouratoglou also shared his thoughts on this whole controversy on Instagram.

“It’s very unlikely he [purposefully] did doping, first of all – and this is a personal statement – I don’t think this is his mindset at all, I don’t think that is his mentality to do doping. I think this Sinner case is a huge scandal. It’s not about him being guilty or not, the question is more about how the anti-doping dealt with the situation. Everyone feels that there is a double standard, which there is, clearly,“  Mouratoglou said.

He also seemed to be hinting at the administration’s favoritism for Sinner, as he further added, “After five months, they decided to make it public that he had been control-positive five months before, it was also said at the same time that he was not guilty. But, in other cases, the player is supposedly guilty because there is a public statement saying that he was control-positive, so for five, six months, maybe one year, two years in some cases, for everyone, this player is doing doping, and – for that period of time, that player cannot compete anymore. He cannot get points, he cannot get money, but, more than anything he gets out of competition for such a long period that, in some cases, his career is over, so they’re destroying the career of a player.”

The former American pro Andy Roddick echoed Mouratoglou’s thoughts, as he dissected WADA’s suspension timeline, in an episode of his podcast Served, dated February 15. “If you could handpick a date right, it’s I’m gonna start this I don’t know 10 days after the Aussie Open and I’m gonna end it not even right before the French Open, right before I make my return to Rome in the Masters 1000 there like you could not have handpicked a better sweet spot for Jannik Sinner to take this deal which is either you know strange or it’s you know best coincidences that have ever happened to the Sinner team,” Roddick said.

While Andy Roddick, Patrick Mourataglou, and many other tennis personalities have criticized the system, is there anyone who has backed the decision?

Feliciano Lopez backs Jannik Sinner amidst controversy surrounding his verdict

Jannik Sinner’s out-of-court settlement with WADA caught the tennis fraternity off-guard, including Stan Wawrinka who posted on X “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore …” But the former Spanish pro-Feliciano Lopez strongly disagreed with Wawrinka’s remark in the comments thread.

“I do Stan,” said the Frenchman, whose words highlighted his faith in the system. He then reflected on Sinner’s goodwill, emphasizing why this verdict seemed appropriate for World No. 1. “It’s very clear he hasn’t done anything to enhance his performance, that’s proven. He’s taking full responsibility for others’ mistakes and 3 months of suspension consequently. Longer suspension would’ve made sport cleaner. I don’t think so,” Lopez concluded.

Lopez had expressed his support for Sinner earlier as well. In an interview with Sky Sports, he previously said, “He is a beautiful person. I would like to tell him that I believe 100% in his innocence. The responsibility for positivity is not his.”

Despite criticism, Sinner’s fate is now sealed with a suspension, which will end on May 4. He will miss the Indian Wells, Miami Open, Madrid Open, and Monte Carlos Masters. His return is expected on his home soil with Rome Masters. While many think of it as an escape for the Italian, the question lingers: will a three-month-long absence from the tour impact his form? What do you think?