“I don’t think he ever wanted to dope”

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has confirmed world number one Jannik Sinner’s positive doping test. In an interview on the Spanish talk show El Hormiguero The 22-time Grand Slam winner showed understanding for the Italian and stressed that he did not believe that he consciously took doping substances.

“I have one virtue or one flaw. That is that in the end I always believe in the good of people. “I know Sinner, I don’t think he ever wanted to do anything,” said the 38-year-old. He trusts the decisions of the anti-doping bodies that investigated the case.

In March of this year, Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol, but a private tribunal in London appointed by the tennis authorities acquitted him. The Italian explained that the banned substance entered his body accidentally – through a masseur who had treated a wound on his own finger with a spray that contained the substance. Sinner separated from the masseur before the US Open.

Despite Sinner’s acquittal, there was criticism of the decision, especially since other players were also provisionally banned in similar cases. Novak Djokovic also commented on the case and called for “clear protocols” and “standardized” procedures in doping cases. SPORT1 The German doping expert Fritz Sörgel was also astonished by the acquittal (“That stinks to high heaven!”) – and was more sceptical than Nadal and the tribunal when it came to the question of whether Sinner’s version of events was credible.

Nadal, on the other hand, believes: “In the end, justice is justice and I believe in justice.” The Spaniard stressed that he respects the opinions of others, but stuck to his opinion that sinners had not received special treatment. Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle and former coach, had previously expressed his conviction of Sinner’s innocence.

Despite the controversy, Sinner is concentrating on the tournament and is now in the quarterfinals of the US Open, where he will face Daniil Medvedev. Sinner defeated the American Tommy Paul in the fourth round. Nadal himself canceled his participation in this year’s US Open after the Olympic Games.