Just before the US Open Jannik Sinner’s tennis future was thrown in doubt. It was revealed he tested positive twice for a banned substance but was let off without a ban leaving the tennis community divided. The likes of Nick Kyrgios and Taara Moore hit out at the decision after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that the Italian bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive tests. At that time, American Andy Roddick stood by Sinner, bringing up a precedent for such a ruling, and offered a defense as staunch as his powerful serve.

Sinner parted ways with his physiotherapist and fitness, who were held responsible for their negligence leading to the positive dope tests. He would go on to capture his second Grand Slam of the year, winning the US Open and it seemed the matter was done and dusted. But on 28 September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), stirring the pot once again.

This has put the spotlight on Roddick, who had hit out at Sinner’s critics earlier when the news first broke out. With things heating up, Roddick has now come up with a slightly different take on the doping saga. After a user on X suggested that Roddick is siding with Sinner because he is privileged just like him, the American legend was quick to shut down the notion.

“No im fine w however it shakes out. Just my opinion that I don’t think he knowingly did it, as to take on all that risk w no physical benefit is nonsensical. However they apply responsibility is ok w me…. Would suck to lose him but I understand for sure. Big need for clarity and a clearer way for people to understand processes,” Roddick said in a tweet from September 28.

Back in August, Roddick defended the verdict citing a similar incident involving Italy’s Marco Bortolotti. A lower-ranked player Bortolotti tested positive for the same banned substance, clostebol, as his compatriot in October 2023. The findings were made public on March 21, this year with the ITIA ruling that the player bore “no fault of negligence.” Roddick said he would have understood had Sunner been handed a ban, but it would go against the previous ruling.

He tweeted, “Also, I’d have totally gotten it and understood if Sinner had been suspended. It would’ve just flown in the face of the latest judgement they’d made for a much lower ranked/profile player for the same result from the same substance ….. recent precedent would’ve been thrown aside.”

Roddick also called out people for their double standards, writing, “the rules are rules crowd often takes plays off when it’s their issue. Precedent is often the issue at hand when deciding fairness. If you don’t follow most recent precedents set for a specific circumstance, then it’s unfair.”

However, not everyone in the tennis community was happy with the Sinner escaping a ban. Outspoken Australian, Nick Kyrgios questioned the decision writing,

“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice,” in a tweet just before the US Open.

The ITIA had announced that Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, in March 2024. However, the ITIA didn’t impose a ban on him after accepting his explanation. Sinner in his defense mentioned that a healing spray, containing the banned substance was purchased by his physio, Umberto Ferrara, and his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, used the spray on a cut on his hand before using the spray to treat Sinner. The ITIA ruled that the tennis player had inadvertently come in contact with the substance. However, this didn’t sit well with WTA star Taara Moore.

“I guess only the top players’ images matter,” Moore said in a tweet in August. “I guess only the independent tribunal’s opinion on the top players is taken as sound and right.” Interestingly Tara Moore was also one of those players who missed out on tennis for 19 months after she tested positive for doping.

Roddick earlier also came to Sinner’s defense after the 2024 Australia Open winner faced criticism in the wake of the incident, with some even pointing out that his Grand Slam win Down Under should be chalked off.

Speaking on Served with Andy Roddick last month, he said, “There’s also a lot of noise online and people saying ‘take away his win in January, he beat my favorite player there’. Stop it.” Roddick also mentioned how Sinner’s explanation given to ITIA was not off the mark.

“We get tested at every Grand Slam, so there’s no way he wasn’t clean at the Australian Open. The amount in his system is a billionth of a gram, which is 58,000 times smaller than a grain of salt – which is entirely consistent with the explanation,” he added. But the recent appeal by WADA puts Sinner in trouble and he may not have the firm backing of Roddick as before.

In the midst of all this, Sinner remains upbeat and has assured his complete cooperation with the concerned authorities. But why did WADA choose to appeal when the tennis player was given the clean chit?

Reason behind WADA’s appeal in Sinner doping case

Jannik Sinner, who was earlier handed a clean chit, suffered a massive blow with the appeal filed by WADA. The anti-doping has a different understanding of Sinner’s violation. “It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules,” it said in a statement on September 28.

They are now asking for a ban, but no change in any previous results of Sinner beyond Indian Wells. Interestingly, Jannik Sinner has already been handed a $325,000 fine and also had to compromise on the 400 ranking points that he earned at Indian Wells.

WADA is now insisting that if found guilty, Sinner should be handed a 1 or 2-year ban depending on the charges applicable to him. However, the Italian has made his stance clear and is ready to cooperate with all the procedures. “I have nothing to hide, and as I have done throughout the summer, I will cooperate fully with the appeal process and provide whatever may be needed to prove my innocence once again. As the case is now pending before CAS, I won’t comment further.”

Jannik Sinner’s future is now uncertain after WADA’s appeal. What does the future hold for him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.