In a surprising turn of events, Coach Darren Cahill has spoken out about Jannik Sinner’s recent doping test results, shedding light on the situation that rocked the tennis world. The news of Sinner failing two doping tests, one during Indian Wells and another just eight days later, left many in shock. However, despite the positive tests for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, the Italian tennis star was ultimately cleared of any intentional wrongdoing.
Cahill emphasized that it was a relief when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) quickly determined that Sinner had not knowingly taken any banned substances. “He would never do anything intentionally. He was in an unfortunate situation,” Cahill explained. “The truth is out, no fault or negligence, and hopefully he can put this behind him.”
The coach revealed that the entire doping scandal took a toll on Sinner, both mentally and physically. The 23-year-old’s health was compromised, leading to recent issues such as tonsillitis that forced him to pull out of the Paris Olympics. “You would have seen a big change in his physicality and excitement to be on the court, it wore him down physically and mentally,” Cahill noted.
Despite the challenges Sinner has faced in recent months, including a semifinal loss at the French Open and an early exit at Wimbledon, Cahill remains optimistic about the future. “The reason why it was possible for him to continue playing after the short provisional suspension is that they were able to locate precisely where the incident occurred and they were able to explain what happened with the spray,” Cahill told ESPN.
As Sinner looks to move past the doping controversy and focus on his tennis career, Cahill expressed gratitude that there was no ban imposed. “We are not looking for any sorrow. Just thankful there is no ban attached,” he said. With the support of his coach and team, Sinner will aim to put this chapter behind him and continue his promising career on the ATP tour.
