"Few people have direct knowledge of what happened" - Tennis journalist defends Jannik Sinner after WADA appeals his doping case

Jon Wertheim recently expressed his views on Jannik Sinner's doping case. The veteran journalist believes that the Italian should get the benefit of the doubt over how the banned substance clostebol entered his system. He also asserted that the tennis universe's knowledge about the case is lacking in nuance at the moment.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests at the Indian Wells Masters five months prior. The World No. 1 disclosed in a separate statement that "less than a billionth of a gram" of clostebol had been detected in his blood, following which an independent tribunal set up by the ITIA gave a "no fault or negligence" ruling in the Italian's favor.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the ITIA's decision to the Court of Arbitration (CAS). WADA believes that the 23-year-old should be banned for at least a year, regardless of whether he took the banned substance knowingly or not.

In that context, noted journalist Jon Wertheim recently took on the subject in his weekly mailbag for Sports Illustrated. The American defended Jannik Sinner and his team, claiming that it was best not to theorize until more evidence about the case came to light.

"Three words that have fallen out of vogue: I don’t know. But few people have direct knowledge of what did or did not happen. We were not in the room. We have not cross-examined Jannik Sinner’s team," Jon Wertheim wrote in his SI Tennis mailbag. "We have multiple positive tests. We have a theory of the case, an explanation that a panel of experts believed. We have some answered questions and some unanswered questions."

Wertheim also stated that the fans had little to no knowledge about the ins and outs of the case.

"Absent first-hand knowledge, some will look at the facts and give him a pass. Others will look at the facts and reach a harsher conclusion," he continued. "We have none of that. So fans need to decide for themselves how they want to see and weigh the evidence and testimony we do have. And then draw their own conclusion."

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"I'm a bit surprised" - Jannik Sinner expresses disappointment at WADA's appeal

Jannik Sinner looks on at French Open 2024

Jannik Sinner was recently asked about his thoughts on WADA contesting the ITIA initially exonerating him from the doping case. The 23-year-old expressed surprise at the appeal before conceding in the same breath that he was expecting it.

"I'm a bit surprised, and, you know, but in another way I knew that there is potential that this could happen," Jannik Sinner said during his pre-tournament presser in Shanghai earlier this week. "It happened, I'm still surprised, but I will collaborate like I did before."

Sinner maintained that he was "very confident" that CAS will eventually find him to be innocent.

"But I'm very confident that it comes out very positively, or I would be very, very surprised if it would be the opposite side," he added. "You know, it's not a situation where I feel comfortable in, that's for sure, because I thought it was over, and now once again, so it's not easy."

Meanwhile, CAS disclosed this week that it has registered WADA's appeal. The decision of the Lausanne-based court panel will be "final and binding".