It looks like Jannik Sinner’s doping saga has finally come to an end. Months after it was revealed that Sinner failed a couple of doping tests last year, the World Number 1 has accepted a 3-month doping ban from WADA, with the latter withdrawing the case from the CAS. Sinner will remain absent from the tour between February 9 to May 4, missing tournaments like the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open. However, he will be able to play in the French Open, the next major tournament on the calendar. Despite Sinner’s doping controversy finally coming to rest, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, remained hugely critical of WADA.

After the ITIA cleared Sinner of doping charges as he hadn’t deliberately come in contact with the banned substance Clostebol, WADA filed an appeal in the CAS, asking for a one to two-year ban for Sinner. However, a settlement was made outside the court, with Sinner accepting the 3-month ban and WADA formally withdrawing its appeal. Nonetheless, Stubbs brutally slammed WADA for reopening the case despite no fault of Sinner.

Taking to her official Twitter handle, she said, “Will talk the Sinner stuff on my next pod. I have stated before on the pod that this was likely going to happen. Glad it wasn’t more than 3 months but ooofff what a freakin joke Wada is…. Will explain in a couple of days.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that Stubbs called out WADA in Sinner’s doping case. Earlier this year in her podcast, she foresaw Sinner getting banned and said, “This WADA situation is such a joke, I mean it’s such a joke. How can the ITIA say no fault for you, and then WADA decides months later: ‘You know what, that’s not quite satisfactory for us, we want him to pay for his team doing something stupid, but we are going to wait until April.’ Are you kidding me?… I guarantee you – look out – I think they are going to ban him. It’s going to be a terrible look for tennis.”

Earlier today, WADA released a statement after mutually coming to an agreement with Sinner. Although the body accepted that Sinner didn’t intend to cheat, according to the rules, the athlete is responsible for the actions of its team members. As a result, a three-month ban was deemed fit in this case, which Sinner agreed to serve. Meanwhile, Stubbs wasn’t the only one who criticized WADA in this matter. Even Nick Kyrgios expressed his frustration, albeit on a different side.

Nick Kyrgios on Jannik Sinner’s ban: ‘Sad day for tennis’

While Stubbs questioned why Sinner was getting banned, Kyrgios felt that a three-month ban was insufficient for a player who had tested positive for a banned substance. Time and again, he has called out the partiality in the doping cases and he took to his official Twitter handle to slam WADA for banning Sinner just for three months and not a year or two. He wrote, “So wada come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.”

Additionally, there were many other bigwigs in the tennis world who criticized Sinner for accepting the 3-month ban. Swiss star, Stan Wawrinka took to social media and wrote, “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore …” Echoing similar views, former Russian tennis star, Yevgeny Kafelnikov revealed, “I just don’t get it!! If you absolutely 100% sure of your innocence(as he was before with his lawyers), why you accepting 3 month ban?? makes no sense to me.”

Interestingly, Simona Halep was banned for nine months after she tested positive for a banned substance, despite expressing her innocence in this matter. Kyrgios pointed to this fact while slamming WADA for partiality between the players. With Sinner accepting the ban now, it remains to be seen how he will make a comeback during the clay court season later this year.