Sinner’s doping case could have been communicated more efficiently, says ATP chairman

TURIN, Italy (AP) — There “could have been better communication” in explaining the rules involved Jannik Sinner’s doping caseATP Tour president Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged Thursday.

However, Gaudenzi said during the ATP finals that anyone who hinted that a “double standard” was being applied because he was at the top The status of sinner is “unfair because the rules are the same.”

Sinner will play at home this week for the first time since it was announced before his US Open title that he tested positive for an anabolic steroid in two separate drug tests in March.

The case was not made public until August.

“I heard it the day before we all learned it,” Gaudenzi said in his public comments on the case. He spoke in a roundtable discussion with international reporters.

“And honestly, I’m happy with that. I give a huge thank you to the ITA (International Testing Agency) and our representatives there for deliberately keeping me and our entire team in the dark, because that’s how it should be.

“It had to be completely independent and that was agreed by the parties. It was a shock, but clearly comforted by the evidence afterwards.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in September appealed an independent tribunal’s decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing and the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year . year.

Sinner’s statement was that the prohibited performance enhancer inadvertently entered his system via a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray of the steroid to treat his own cut finger.

WADA demands a ban of one to two years for Sinner.

“We are completely external and it is an independent process,” Gaudenzi said. “Overall, I think this has been a fair process. It really happened by the book and according to the rules. Perhaps there could have been better communication in explaining those rules, and that is something that I would urge all parties involved to do better next time.”

The future of the ATP Finals will be revealed

Gaudenzi said he plans to announce the future host of the ATP Finals on Sunday. The contract with Turin expires next year and there is an option to move the event to nearby Milan, in a larger arena being built for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

___

AP tennis: