"There is ZERO scandal in the Jannik Sinner case" - Andy Murray's ex-coach rejects 'cover-up' claims as WADA appeals Italian's doping verdict

Andy Murray's ex-coach Mark Petchey has opined that the Jannik Sinner case has nothing scandalous about it. Petchey shared his opinion in the aftermath of WADA's official confirmation that it would be appealing against the decision to let Sinner continue playing despite the Italian testing positive for a banned substance twice, earlier this year.

Ahead of kickstarting his title-winning campaign at the US Open, Jannik Sinner and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) jointly announced that the Italian first tested positive for Clostebol during his participation at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Sinner tested positive for the substance again shortly after exiting the ATP Masters 1000 event in the semifinals.

The Italian had initially been given a provisional suspension, but his team appealed quickly and provided evidence to prove that Sinner's contamination was accidental. According to the defense mounted by the World No. 1's team, he had been exposed to Clostebol via massages administered to him by his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi.

At the time, Naldi was treating a cut on his finger by using a topical medication containing the substance and had massaged Sinner without wearing gloves, facilitating the contamination. The medication had been purchased from Italy and given to Naldi by Sinner's ex-trainer Umberto Ferrara.

It is worth noting that while Clostebol is a banned substance under ITIA rules, it is legal in Italy and medications containing it can be purchased over-the-counter in the European nation.

The ITIA found these explanations for the exposure valid and lifted Jannik Sinner's provisional suspension. However, the ranking points and prize money he accrued from his semifinal run at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells were docked. An independent tribunal was tasked to investigate the case further.

Ultimately, the tribunal concluded that Sinner was at "no fault or negligence" over his Clostebol contamination. However, on Saturday, September 28, WADA announced that it had filed an appeal against the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). WADA has claimed that the tribunal's decision was incorrect 'under the applicable rules'.

Mark Petchey, a British former ATP Tour-level player and an ex-coach of the legendary Andy Murray, recently weighed in on the latest twist in the Jannik Sinner case. According to Petchey, 'controversy' and 'cover up' narratives surrounding the case are invalid. Several prominent figures in tennis and many avid fans of the sport have suggested that Sinner was preferentially treated.

"Just for the record there is ZERO scandal in the Sinner case. He and his lawyers worked within the framework of what the rules are in the situation he found himself and got a decision based on the evidence presented. No conspiracy, no cover up," Petchey wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

"WADA today have looked at it and decided that they want to appeal the decision based on the “"no fault or negligence" was not correct under the applicable rules.This is how the law works every single day," Petchey added.

A fan later responded to the Brit and disagreed with him, maintaining that Jannik Sinner received preferential treatment. Petchey soon responded and dismissed the stance as a "false narrative".

"No he did not (receive preferential treatment). False narrative and it’s exhausting to watch people being allowed to peddle this slander," Petchey wrote.

Christopher Eubanks, a former World No. 29, reacted to Petchey's original post and thanked the Brit for clearing things up.

"THANK YOU PETCH," Eubanks wrote.

Sinner also expressed his mixed feelings of disappointment and surprise at the WADA's decision to appeal his case. The Italian is currently participating in the 2024 China Open as the defending champion.

Jannik Sinner, in the thick of the on-court action in Beijing, taken aback by WADA appealing his case

Jannik Sinner (Source: Getty)

After registering a second-round win over Roman Safiullin at the 2024 China Open, Jannik Sinner was asked about his thoughts on WADA appealing his case. The Italian said that he was upset and also taken by surprise. The World No. 1 opined that after the three previous hearings with the ITIA going well for him, he hadn't expected the latest development.

"I'm very disappointed and also surprised of this appeal, to be honest, because we had three hearings. All three hearings came out very positively for me. You know, I was not expecting it. I knew it a couple of days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it's going to go official," Sinner said.

The Italian's next on-court challenge will be to get the better of Jiri Lehecka in the 2024 China Open quarterfinals. Sinner's semifinal opponent, provided he does make it to the last four in Beijing, would be one of either Andrey Rublev, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Bu Yunchaokete, or Lorenzo Musetti, all of who are yet to play their respective second-round matches.