{"id":11264,"date":"2024-10-04T11:26:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T11:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=11264"},"modified":"2024-10-04T11:26:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T11:26:17","slug":"andy-roddick-defends-jannik-sinner-wada-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/andy-roddick-defends-jannik-sinner-wada-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Roddick Comes To The Defence Of Tennis World No. 1 Jannik Sinner Amidst WADA Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andy Roddick has come to the defence of Jannik Sinner following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against the Italian’s acquittal on failed drug test charges.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sinner Cleared of Wrongdoing But WADA Appeals<\/h2>\n

Roddick<\/a> believes that Sinner, the world No. 1, would never intentionally take a performance-enhancing substance.<\/p>\n

Last month, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing after he tested positive for low levels of clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March.<\/p>\n

The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance entered his body through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on their finger.<\/p>\n

However, WADA has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a ban of up to two years on Sinner. The agency argues that the ‘no fault or negligence’ finding was incorrect under the applicable rules.<\/p>\n

Roddick Supports Sinner, Expresses Concern for Potential Impact<\/h2>\n

Roddick, speaking on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick<\/em>, expressed his concern for the potential impact of a ban on Sinner’s career.<\/p>\n

“If it comes down the day after Christmas or sometime around then, he’s already gotten his training in for Australia,” Roddick said. “That lands; if it’s three months, he misses one; if it’s six months, he misses two, if it’s nine months, he misses three Slams.”<\/p>\n

The former world No. 1 added that he believes Sinner is innocent and that the Italian would never knowingly risk his reputation and career for a performance advantage.<\/p>\n

“I don’t believe he is an idiot; I don’t think he is consciously going to do something that does enhance performance to risk legacy, reputation, time, chance at Slams, etc.,” Roddick said.<\/p>\n

Not everyone shares the same level of sympathy for Sinner. Australian tennis<\/a> star Nick Kyrgios<\/a> has been vocal about how Sinner should be banned for doping.<\/p>\n

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling on the appeal is expected to arrive in February 2025.<\/p>\n