Novak Djokovic has blasted the governing our bodies of tennis for mishandling Jannik Sinner’s doping case.
Chatting with the media forward of the Shanghai Masters, Djokovic sympathized with Sinner for having his innocence questioned even after he was cleared by the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) and the Italian anti-doping authority following a sequence of formal hearings. In September, the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) rejected the tribunal’s verdict that cleared the Italian and appealed to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that Sinner be banned for “between one and two years.”
“It is fairly apparent that we now have a system that’s not working effectively,” Djokovic said on Wednesday. “I suppose that is most likely one thing that even to people who find themselves not following our sport are realizing. There’s approach too many inconsistencies, approach too many governing our bodies concerned. This entire case just isn’t serving to our sport in any respect. I believe he has gained the three appeals to date that he had, and it should be very powerful for him and his crew and household. Hopefully, we will return to tennis.”
Djokovic mentioned it was “spectacular” for Sinner to maintain his composure by the ordeal, however rued that the circumstances “should not optimistic” for the game of tennis. He added that “no matter occurs” with the case must happen rapidly so followers can change their focus to tennis slightly than the off-court controversy.
