Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner admits he considered quitting tennis before accepting a three-month ban for doping earlier this year.
WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against an independent tribunal’s decision last August to clear Sinner, who had tested positive for the anabolic agent Clostebol.
Sinner claimed the banned substance entered his system from a member of his support team through massage and sports therapy.
He defended his title at the Australian Open in Januarywith the WADA case in the background.
Sinner said he considered giving up tennis at the time.
“I remember that before the Australian Open this year I was not in a very happy moment because there was still this doping case,” Sinner told Italian broadcaster RAI.
“I didn’t really feel comfortable in the locker room, where I was eating.
“It was a bit as if some players looked at me differently and I didn’t like that at all. And then I said that it was heavy to experience tennis that way.
“I didn’t feel comfortable.”
Sinner says he felt distracted while defending his Australian Open title. (AP: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Sinner was then forced to take a break due to the ban, but is now back in training for the upcoming Italian Open this month.
“Slowly I’m getting back into the rhythm of real training with a goal in front of me,” Sinner said.
“Sometimes it goes very well, sometimes there is a drop and I don’t know why, so I will definitely be very happy to get back on the pitch.
“Especially in Rome, it’s a special tournament for me, but I’m definitely coming there with a slightly different mentality. I miss competing.
“I am certainly very happy that this phase is now over and we are ready to start again.”
Sinner’s settlement drew criticism from current and former players.
Serena Williams has claimed she would have been banned for 20 years and had major titles taken away from her if she had tested positive in the same way.
“Everyone is free to say what they want, everyone can judge, but it doesn’t matter,” Sinner said.
“It’s important for me to know how it happened, but above all also what I experienced and it was very difficult.
“I don’t want anyone to be blamed for something like that because it wasn’t easy, but we’re in a world where everyone can say whatever they want, so it’s okay.”
Reuters
