Eurosport’s Barbara Schett has called for greater transparency and clearer regulations in the handling of doping cases, particularly in light of Jannik Sinner’s recent three-month suspension. The world No. 1, who is also a three-time Grand Slam champion, was handed the suspension after twice testing positive for clostebol in March 2024.
Initially, in August 2024, Sinner was exonerated from any wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), who ruled that he was not at fault, citing accidental contamination by his physiotherapist. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) disagreed with this decision and appealed it in September 2024, which led to the case being set for a hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April 2025.
In an unexpected turn of events, WADA and Sinner reached a settlement in which he accepted a three-month ban without the need for a CAS hearing. As a result, Sinner’s suspension will last until May 4th, allowing him to return to competition at the Italian Open in Rome before heading to the French Open later in May.
This case has sparked significant controversy across both tennis and the broader sporting community, with Sinner, the ITIA, and WADA all facing criticism from various quarters. Speaking to Kicker, Schett, a former world No. 7, expressed her confusion over the way the situation was handled. She found the settlement “strange” and stressed the need for more precise and transparent rules surrounding doping cases.
“The news came surprisingly early for me because it was originally said that a decision would be made in April,” Schett remarked. “I find the wording of a ‘joint solution’ interesting – it sounds odd. Is he guilty or not?”
Schett went on to point out the confusion surrounding the case. While WADA acknowledged that Sinner did not intentionally dope, they still imposed a ban. “It’s a bit confusing,” Schett said. “But the three-month suspension works out for him, as the timing is ideal for him to return at the Rome event.”
The fallout on social media has been intense, with widespread opinions on both sides. Schett stated, “Personally, I believe his story. But just because you know someone and like them doesn’t mean they’re innocent. I really think this was a mistake by his physiotherapist, and Jannik must now face the consequences.”
Schett further expressed concern over the ambiguity of the process, noting that many players feel uncertain about how decisions are made. “The process is opaque, and the way WADA and CAS handle things is problematic. Many players now think they can negotiate with WADA on the length of their suspension, and that creates confusion. Nobody knows what’s going on anymore,” she said.
She urged for WADA to introduce more stringent and clear rules for future cases to prevent such confusion, emphasizing, “There needs to be more clarity in the system for future cases.”
Sinner has not played since his victory at the Australian Open in January and was forced to pull out of the Qatar Open once his suspension was confirmed. His ban will also prevent him from defending his title at the Miami Open next month, as well as from competing in Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, and Madrid.
Schett was also asked about Iga Świątek’s case, which saw the five-time Grand Slam champion serve a one-month suspension after testing positive for TMZ in August 2024. While acknowledging that these incidents do not reflect well on tennis, Schett emphasized the need for clearer rules and processes.
“It’s definitely not ideal that a world No. 1 was banned twice,” Schett said. “This certainly hasn’t put tennis in the best light.” She added, “What was strange about Iga’s case was the way her punishment was split. The whole system needs to be overhauled. The process needs to be easier to understand for journalists, fans, and everyone who loves the sport. And if there’s a positive test, the public should be informed right away.”
In summary, Schett stressed that greater transparency, more precise regulations, and a streamlined process are essential for restoring faith in tennis’ anti-doping efforts.