ATP Boss dismisses 'conspiracy theories' about Jannik Sinner’s doping case: "The process has been 100 per cent by the book"

ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi defended the handling of Jannik Sinner's doping case, stating there has been “no preferential treatment” and expressing confidence that tennis “will survive” if the world No. 1 receives a suspension.

The Italian tested positive twice in March last year, but after his appeal, the case was kept out of the public sphere for several months until the American hardcourt swing in August. It was then revealed that the ITIA decided not to suspend Sinner because the banned substance entered his body involuntarily, and there was “no fault or negligence” on the player’s part.

ATP Chief denies special treatment for Sinner

Recently, ATP Chief Andrea Gaudenzi addressed the matter in an interview with AAP, asserting that Sinner’s case was “handled according to the rules” and disclosing that he himself only learned about it shortly before the controversy erupted.

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“I found out two days before the announcement from the ITA – the way it should have been,” he explained at Melbourne Park. “I was initially a bit shocked. (But) it is completely independent, and they obviously went to an independent panel.”

Sinner is not entirely free from a potential suspension, as WADA has appealed the decision, requesting a ban of one to two years for the two-time Grand Slam champion. A resolution is expected in the coming months.

“I genuinely believe there has been a lot of misinformation out there, which is unfortunate,” the former Italian player stated. “I am 100 per cent sure that there has not been any preferential treatment. The process has been run by the book and according to the rules, by the ITIA.”

Jannik Sinner at 2024 China Open.

"We'll survive" - Gaudenzi confident in tennis’s resilience amid Sinner’s doping controversy

Gaudenzi urged fans to remain patient until a new resolution is reached and dismissed “conspiracy theories” about Sinner receiving special treatment. “It’s a very popular thing to say – he’s No. 1 in the world, obviously he’s Italian, and I’m Italian,” Gaudenzi said. “People sometimes confuse the outcome of a specific case with the process. I think that’s where the problem is.”

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“The process is identical – he hasn’t been treated differently. But every case is different, every circumstance is different,” Gaudenzi added. “Sometimes a player might appeal a suspension and might not get the appeal. Sometimes they do, and it depends on the evidence, the expert opinion, and the substance. It depends on a very large number of variables.”

“The case is still ongoing. WADA appealed, so it is not over yet, and justice is taking its course. But I really want to underline and assure everyone that the process has been 100 per cent by the book.”

“And we have the full evidence, and anyone who wants to dig deeper and actually read the documents will understand. But we will have to live with it, and justice will do its course,” he claimed.

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On the other hand, Gaudenzi indicated that tennis could survive a potential suspension of Jannik Sinner. “If that is the case, I think he’ll survive, and I think we’ll survive. Overall, tennis is a very strong product.”

“When I started, there was talk of, ‘OK, you’re going to have an issue because Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), or Novak (Djokovic) are retiring, and there’s a new generation.’ And I’ve lived through the whole Agassi and Sampras era – ‘when they retire, it’s going to be a disaster’ type of thing. But the whole product is very, very strong.”

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