Latest news with #WorldAnti-DopingAuthority
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alcaraz makes feelings clear after beating Sinner on rival's return from ban
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday to mark the perfect build-up to the French Open, which gets underway in Paris next week Carlos Alcaraz has welcomed Jannik Sinner back to top level tennis after the Italian's return from a doping ban. Sinner had been forced to sit on the sidelines for three months after testing positive for Clostebol. The ban followed a deal Sinner's team negotiated with the World Anti-Doping Authority and came into effect on February 9. He served the full length of the suspension ahead of the Italian Open and will be free to play in all four majors this year. In his first tournament back, Sinner reached the final in Rome, where he came up against Alcaraz. Both men were looking to win the Italian Open for the first time, with Sinner playing in front of a home crowd. Sinner struggled to match Alcaraz though, with the Spaniard claiming a 7-6, 6-1 win. Both players are now building up to the French Open, which gets underway on Sunday. The duo are expected to be two of the favourites to win at Roland-Garros, with Alcaraz the defending champion. Having beaten Sinner on Sunday, Alcaraz admitted he was pleased to see one of his biggest rivals return to the court. 'I'm just really happy to get my first Rome [title], hopefully it's not going to be the last one,' he said. 'The first thing I want to say is that I'm just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level. "I'm sure it wasn't easy for him coming back after three months and making the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament [back]. It's something insane, so I have to congratulate him. I'm proud of myself, with the way I approached the match mentally. "Tactically, I think I played pretty well from the first point until the last one. I didn't do a rollercoaster… I maintained my good level throughout the whole match, so I'm really proud about everything I did today. 'All eyes are on Paris right now, on Roland Garros. Beating Jannik, winning Rome, both things mix together and give great confidence going to Paris. I always say 'The final is not about playing, the final is about winning'. I just repeat everytime I play a final.' Sinner entered Sunday's final on a 26-match winning run and forced Alcaraz to save two set points in the opener. But once the Spaniard found his rhythm, Sinner was unable to keep pace. Alcaraz dropped just six of 27 first-serve points in the opening set and saved each of the break points he faced, which doubled as set points. After edging the opening set, the reinging French Open champion was dominant in the second. The 22-year-old deployed a series of brilliant defensive groundstrokes as well as trademark drop shots to help to a win. Sinner meanwhile is now turning his focus to Paris, having reached the semi-finals last year. "[The] first set for sure was a little bit of a game-changer. But talking generally, [I am] very happy about this tournament,' Sinner said. 'It gives me hopefully confidence to play some good tennis also in Paris. "Let's see what's coming out there. But after three months, coming here, making this result means a lot to me, a lot to my team also. We worked a lot to be here."
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Sinner returns from ban as fans make their feelings known on Grand Slam winner
Jannik Sinner has served a three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Authority, with the world No.1 making his return at the Rome Masters as he builds up to the French Open Tennis world No.1 Jannik Sinner returned to the court on Saturday for the first time since his three-month ban for a positive Clostebol test. The suspension drew controversy from many within the sport, including 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic. The ban followed a deal Sinner's team negotiated with the World Anti-Doping Authority and came into effect on February 9. He has now served the full length of the suspension and will be free to play in all four majors this year. With the French Open coming up at the end of the month, Sinner is now starting his build-up. The Italian has never won the tournament at Roland Garros, with his best effort being a semi-final last year. As he bids to win in Paris for the first time, Sinner started his preparation by playing in the BNL Internazionali D'Italia. The 23-year-old was drawn against Argentina's Mariano Navone in a second-round match, having been handed a first-round bye. A number of factors may have played into Sinner's decision to make his return at Foro Italico. The first is that it meant he was playing in front of a home crowd, while the courts play in a similar way to the ones at Roland Garros. Ahead of his clash with Navone, Sinner walked out to a huge roar and a standing ovation. The noise levels did drop significantly during the match itself, though Sinner was able to temper his supporters' nervousness. While Navone broke back towards the end of the second set, Sinner was able to ease to a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 38 minutes. The home favourite did not do much to celebrate, simply batting a spare ball into the crowd, and then applauding the spectators. He also wrote 'Che bello' (How beautiful) on the camera lens at the end of the match, as chants of 'Ole' rang around the stadium. The defeat of Navone continued Sinner's winning streak, with the Italian having won 22 matches in a row, leaving him delighted. "It has been amazing to go again on court after such a long time, having a great support also in the last days," Sinner said. "From the first day I came here, it has been amazing. I was waiting for this moment quite a long time. "The whole match, even when it seems quite comfortable, it's a rollercoaster, no? Inside we feel that, especially the beginning of the match having, again, the nerves of serving for the first time, trying to move in the best possible way you can. "I was missing the feedback of official matches, which are the best feedbacks we players can get. At least now I have a bigger picture of what I'm doing well and what I have to improve. It was a great start from my point of view of this tournament and of the comeback." Sinner will now face world No 93 Jesper de Jong in the third round on Monday. The Italian Open is the final Masters 1000 event before the French Open, though Sinner has also entered the Hamburg Open in the week before Roland Garros.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
‘It stinks': Ex-skipper calls out secret drug ban
The secret process that will allow superstar South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada take on Australia in the World Test Championship final despite a positive drugs test has been called out by former Test captain Tim Paine, who says it 'stinks'. Rabada could be back playing in the IPL in India this week after being ushered home from the tournament for 'personal reasons' before revelations of his positive test to a recreational drug was revealed. The positive test was recorded during the South African T20 league in January, but Rabada went to India and played for Gujarat Titans before taking a 'provisional suspension' that is now over. Under World Anti-Doping Authority regulations, a positive test is regarded as 'out of competition' if the player can prove that the drug use took place before 11.59pm on the eve of competition and was not intended to enhance performance. That could then reduce the penalty to three months from anywhere up to four years and to as little as a month should Rabada complete a drug treatment program. With that box seemingly ticked, Rabada will be back in action and in time to take on Australia at Lord's in the WTC final in July. Paine slammed the secrecy around the process that has been run by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport. 'It stinks,' Paine said on SEN Radio on Monday. 'Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he's already served his ban. 'Not only will he play against Australia in the World Test Championship, but he's available to be playing now in the IPL. Kagiso Rabada is free to play Australia. AP Photo/Ajit Solanki Credit: News Corp Australia 'No one knew about what he's taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it. 'If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he's taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that.' Rabada revealed the ordeal himself across the weekend. 'I couldn't have gone through this alone,' Rabada said. 'I'd like to thank my agent, CSA, and Gujarat Titans for their support. I'd also like to thank SACA and my legal team for their guidance and counsel.'
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Former Australian captain Tim Paine lashes process that will allow Kagiso Rabada to play Australia after positive drug test
The secret process that will allow superstar South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada take on Australia in the World Test Championship final despite a positive drugs test has been called out by former Test captain Tim Paine, who says it 'stinks'. Rabada could be back playing in the IPL in India this week after being ushered home from the tournament for 'personal reasons' before revelations of his positive test to a recreational drug was revealed. The positive test was recorded during the South African T20 league in January, but Rabada went to India and played for Gujarat Titans before taking a 'provisional suspension' that is now over. Under World Anti-Doping Authority regulations, a positive test is regarded as 'out of competition' if the player can prove that the drug use took place before 11.59pm on the eve of competition and was not intended to enhance performance. That could then reduce the penalty to three months from anywhere up to four years and to as little as a month should Rabada complete a drug treatment program. With that box seemingly ticked, Rabada will be back in action and in time to take on Australia at Lord's in the WTC final in July. Paine slammed the secrecy around the process that has been run by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport. 'It stinks,' Paine said on SEN Radio on Monday. 'Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he's already served his ban. 'Not only will he play against Australia in the World Test Championship, but he's available to be playing now in the IPL. 'No one knew about what he's taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it. 'If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he's taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that.' Rabada revealed the ordeal himself across the weekend. 'I couldn't have gone through this alone,' Rabada said. 'I'd like to thank my agent, CSA, and Gujarat Titans for their support. I'd also like to thank SACA and my legal team for their guidance and counsel.'
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rival's swipe at Sinner ban as Djokovic weighs in after launch of new legal move
British tennis star Liam Broady has likened Jannik Sinner's three-month doping ban to a football player being suspended in the off-season, and called for fellow players to be afforded the same level of legal representation as the World No.1. It comes amid a major legal change around doping cases after 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic admitted the current system was "inconsistent" and "unfair". Sinner just struck a deal with the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) that will see him suspended for three months after twice testing positive for for traces of banned substance clostebol in March last year. He was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after claiming he'd been inadvertently contaminated from a spray used by his physio. WADA appealed the initial ruling and were set to take Sinner to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later this year, where they were pushing for a two-year ban until the deal was struck with the Italian. The messy saga has divided the tennis world, with growing calls for Sinner to be stripped of his latest Australian Open title, having played in this year's first grand slam with the doping cloud over his head. And major questions are being raised around the timing of Sinner's suspension, considering he won't miss any grand slam tournaments and will be free to return before his home event at the Rome Masters - which is a key lead-up tournament for the French Open. British star Broady says the suspension is very convenient for the World No.1 and questioned the fairness of the ruling. "I do think a lot has been put into when the ban would take place, to impact Jannik's career as little as possible," Broady told BBC Sport. "The ban ends the day before the Rome Masters, which is the biggest tournament in his home country and the perfect preparation for him to then go and play the French Open. I don't think he loses any (rankings) points or his number one spot either, so it's an interesting ban." Broady is ranked outside the world's top 500 and would not be able to afford the same sort of top-level legal representation as someone of Sinner's ilk. The 31-year-old pointed out how unfair that system is for many players that don't have the same amount of finances as Sinner, and called on the sport's governing bodies to provide legal teams that all professional players can access. "This is how the system is supposed to work, but obviously he has a multi-million pound lawyer team to exploit that and to make the system work correctly, whereas the rest of us don't," Broady added. "I would like to see... the ATP provide legal teams for everybody, good legal teams, that everybody has to use... "I don't like how the finances have maybe affected the outcome of this compared to other cases." Didn't realise you could reach a settlement regarding a doping ban… Interesting. Back in time for French Open I guess? 👀 — Liam Broady (@Liambroady) February 15, 2025 I'm sure Dan Evans would have liked a 3 month settlement banI'm sure Simona Halep would have liked a 3 month settlement banI'm sure Nicholas Jarry would have liked a 3 month settlement banI'm sure Beatrice Hadad Maia would have liked a 3 month settlement banRules are… — _ (@cfcj_j) February 15, 2025 Broady's comments come after Novak Djokovic's Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) launched a new scheme to provide pro bono legal support to players in such cases. The PTPA says the initiative would address Broady's concerns by providing athletes with "world-class legal expertise regardless of a player's financial standing and personal resources". RELATED: Tennis world blasts 'trash' move after grand slam's $1.6 million change Massive call made on Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray partnership Djokovic concedes the current anti-doping system in professional tennis is "very unfair" and admits there is a lack of trust from players and fans towards the anti-doping organisations. "Right now it's a ripe time for us to really address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn't work [for] anti-doping, it's obvious," Djokovic said at the Qatar Open. "The problem is that right now there is a lack of trust generally from the tennis players, both male and female, towards WADA and ITIA, and the whole process. I hope that in the next period of the near future that the governing bodies are going to come together, of our tours and the tennis ecosystem, and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes. It's inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair."
