"Jannik Sinner has continued to make millions, steal World No. 1" - Fans cry double standards after WTA World No. 488 player cops 6-month doping ban

Fans online were outraged after learning that World No. 488 Nikola Bartunkova had accepted a six-month ban despite a 'No Significant Fault or Negligence' verdict similar to Jannik Sinner's. They felt that the Italian had been let off as a result of being the World No. 1 while the lower-ranked player suffered.

The tennis world was stunned when it was revealed that Sinner had tested positive for Clostebol, a banned steroid, during the Indian Wells Masters. The Italian argued that the substance had entered his body via bare-handed massages from his ex-physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.

The ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) stated that 'no fault or negligence' was found on the World No. 1's part and he was allowed to continue playing, a decision which split the tennis world. One side supported the Italian getting to play, however, the other felt that Sinner had received some preferential treatment.

Interestingly, around the same time, 18-year-old Czech tennis player Nikola Bartunkova tested positive for trimetazidine, a prohibited substance, in February and March while competing at an ITF W50 and an ITF W75 event respectively. She was sent a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Violation on April 16.

However, on October 27, she identified the source of the contamination following which the ITIA conducted an investigation and accepted that Bartunkova bore 'No Significant Fault or Negligence'. Considering all the facts, the ITIA gave a six-month suspension to the Czech and took away the points she earned between the two positive tests, barring one match, where her results came negative. Her ban was lifted on November 11 and she is now eligible to compete.

Fans were appalled by the verdict as they felt the young Czech star's punishment was unfair since Jannik Sinner received no ban for a similar verdict. One fan said Sinner continued to make millions as the World No. 1 during his case and called out the 'double standards' in the verdicts. The fan wrote on X:

"No fault or negligence in this doping case but he accepts six month ban. Hello Jannik Sinner who was banned for hours only and has continued to play, make Millions, steal the number one slot and the rest of it. double standards."

Another fan claimed 'double standards' in the two verdicts and stated the similarity in the cases and the huge difference in the punishments.

"A lower ranked player where it has been accepted they failed a drug test but had no fault or negligence, banned for 6 months. Yet with Jannik Sinner they literally banned him for a few hours. The double standards couldn't be more blatant," the fan commented.

Another fan pondered about the preferential treatment Jannik Sinner was awarded and questioned if it would show the ITIA in a bad light.

"Different strokes for different folks I guess. How is is it possible that World No. 1 Jannik Sinner's gets zero time off and this player, World No. 226 Nikola Bartunkova, is suspended for six months by the same organisation, abiding by the same set of rules? Should Sinner's case become a precedent and no player should be suspended at all, or did ITIA use preferential treatment in his case, compromising the legitimacy and integrity of the agency and something should be done about it? Thoughts?" the fan pondered.

However, some fans highlighted how the two cases differed. One fan wrote:

"Maybe the fact that she does not assert that she bears no fault or negligence but that she bears no significant fault or negligence is the difference."

"Because she took a contaminated supplement and conceded she didn’t use the “utmost caution” in vetting the supplement. This is more like Simona’s case than Jannik’s," a fan opined.

"Not really a comparable. It took her all those months to “figure out” what the source of the contamination was and by the time she did she was docked time already served and can go right back to playing … now. Apples and oranges," a fan said.

However, all is not good for Sinner as WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has appealed the Italian's 'no fault' verdict to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sports) and is demanding a period of ineligibility of one to two years.

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"I had a moment of total blank" - Jannik Sinner revealed how he found out that he had tested positive for Clostebol

Jannik Sinner (Source: Getty)

In a recent interview with Esquire UK, Jannik Sinner revealed that he was in his flat when his manager Alex Vittur called him to break the news of his doping verdict. He said he couldn't believe his ears when he heard the news and still isn't able to grasp the situation he finds himself in currently.

"I was in my flat in Monte Carlo. Alex calls me and says, 'Jannik you are positive.' And I say, 'Yes Alex, I am always positive.' 'No, you are positive for doping.' I had a moment of total blank. I didn't know what to say. Nothing was coming out of me. I immediately tried to understand how this could have happened, because I did absolutely nothing. I didn't even want to believe it. I felt lost. Even now, I don't understand it," Jannik Sinner said.

Jannik Sinner is currently competing at the 2024 ATP Finals and has successfully made it to the semifinals following wins over Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. He will play Daniil Medvedev in his final group-stage match.