It’s been a whirlwind of emotions for Jannik Sinner over the last few days. WADA announced a three-month ban starting February 9, leaving fans and players unhappy. The issue? Sinner was supposed to appeal to CAS in April, but this abrupt agreement means he won’t miss any Grand Slams, which many see as unfair. Critics point out that while he could have faced a one to two-year ban, a mere three months feels light compared to Simona Halep’s nine-month suspension in 2023 and other players banned for nearly a year under similar circumstances of “no fault or negligence.” The debates continue, and former ATP pro Juan Martin Del Potro is notably upset.What began as two positive results for the banned anabolic substance clostebol from a March 2024 doping test has spiraled into Jannik Sinner’s worst nightmare. He’s under immense pressure to maintain his ranking while facing the possibility of a two-year ban after WADA appealed the ITIA’s initial ruling that cleared him in August. Fans have closely followed this saga, watching the Italian World No. 1 shine in 2024, clinching two Grand Slams and six other titles. Amidst this turmoil, Del Potro found the situation “strange,” stating, “He tested positive twice in Indian Wells, before the US Open the case is publicly known and he does not receive any sanction. I find that strange, that for many months there were people who knew and did not communicate it.”Despite the controversy, Sinner continued to shine at Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, and the US Open, despite his positive results coming to light. Del Potro questioned why the news broke before a Grand Slam and why Sinner was still eligible to compete. With his ban lifting weeks before the 2025 French Open, WADA’s General Counsel, Ross Wenzel came forth to clarify that it was not intentional nor negotiated by the player. The agency happened to conclude proposing the dates to Sinner and his team completely “blind to the calendar.” But this was not well-received by the community as Del Potro remarked, “I think everyone here lost a little credibility. The ATP, the anti-doping systems, the image of Sinner, the fans. I think no one came out with anything positive.” Del Potro asked about the Sinner case: “I see the situation as strange”“I think that everyone here lost a bit of credibility . The ATP, the anti-doping systems, Sinner’s image, the fans. I don’t think anyone came out with any positive.”@ESPNtenis https://t.co/HGfpObckCq pic.twitter.com/97fzcdrFFe— C Kristjánsdóttir ● (@CristinaNcl) February 22, 2025Critics like Novak Djokovic have echoed concerns about “favoritism” in how Sinner’s case was handled. Despite his dominance on the court, Sinner has struggled with sleepless nights and trust issues in the locker room due to this ordeal. Jasmine Paolini’s coach, Renzo Furlan, praised Sinner’s resilience during this tough time.Furlan explains why Jannik Sinner was able to win despite doping controversyOn January 31, Renzo Furlan opened up about Sinner’s struggles during a challenging time. He emphasized, “There was always this doping situation hanging over his head. I said to him: ‘You’ve managed to do extraordinary things even under this pressure.’” Sinner himself reflected on the Cincinnati tournament, stating, “You know how it went in Cincinnati? Things could have gone well or badly.” At that moment, he was under intense scrutiny after his positive test results were revealed during the Indian Wells Masters.During the Cincinnati tournament, Sinner faced Alexander Zverev in the semifinals but had to attend an ITIA hearing just hours before stepping onto Centre Court. Furlan recalled, “‘For the first time, we rented a house instead of a hotel room. We had two cars to transport us. I drove one and my team drove the other. I needed these moments to myself. It’s something that may sound silly, but it gave me great peace of mind.’” This strategy worked wonders as Sinner triumphed over Zverev in a thrilling match, despite showing signs of discomfort from a hip issue. He delivered stunning shot-making to win 7-6(9), 5-7, 7-6(4) in three hours and seven minutes. Not only did he conquer Zverev, but he also defeated Frances Tiafoe in the finals for yet another title.Furlan emphasized Sinner’s extraordinary resilience: “It’s worth remembering that this guy, before the semi-final against Zverev, had to be heard from 4 am to 10 am. He was then acquitted and won his match in three sets. Only someone with extraordinary qualities can do that.”Now facing a three-month ban, Sinner still holds his position as World No. 1 with 11,830 points—nearly 4,000 ahead of No. 2 Zverev. However, the debate surrounding this controversy seems endless. What’s your take on this?The post “No One Came Out With Anything Positive”: Retired ATP Pro Shares His Disappointment on Handling of Jannik Sinner’s Doping Controversy appeared first on EssentiallySports.