I think the headline that Sinner was spared the worst is very much the case, and not just because the “upper range” might have been a 3m ban. I know many were speculating about this before this settlement but in truth, according to the applicable law and CAS case law, the 3m ban was not an available option if CAS had determined he bore no significant fault/negligence in his case given that his ADVR was for a non-specified substance. The TADP does not allow a reduction more than half of the maximum (being 1 year) (hence why WADA were asking for 1-2 years). A 3m ban would accord with a low level of fault/negligence based on the applicable case law, had the substance been a specified substance. As such CAS was facing the prospect of having to decide on no fault at all (0 years banned) and if low fault/negligence (at minimum 1 year). I think WADA’s settlement is recognition that was an unfavourable option for CAS given the basic facts of contamination (which they were not disputing, merely the scope of Sinner’s negligence re his staff) that ran the risk of a bad precedent in either case. In this regard I think it was a pragmatic decision by WADA to potentially avoid a loss (or a win that would have potentially been a bad precedent), and an even more pragmatic assessment by Sinner to avoid a potential longer ban where the relevant law and case law could never have allowed a lower range ban less than 1 year for even low negligence and fault. A 3m ban would never have been available to him at hearing and he would have had to demonstrate no ban at all or face the prospect of at min 1 year even with low fault/negligence.
On the issue of whether the settlement represents an “admission of guilt” by Sinner, WADA has never alleged in its appeal that Sinner intended to cheat and said expressly in its statement announcing the settlement that he “did not intend to cheat” so I am not sure what guilt he would be admitting to beyond accepting that he bore some fault and negligence at the low end.
Nice piece. I saw The Athletic reported that he will be allowed to train from April 13. Is that right? I never heard of suspended players not being able to "train." What does that even mean? He can't run on a treadmill or go for a walk? Seems hard to believe. ... On the last paragraph about players having a lot of time to think about what it means, I'll take the "under" on the thinking. Always take the under on thinking in tennis.
I‘ve just read that Sinner trained with Lehecka on february 14th, which is either a breach of the agreement or the agreement was backdated, so that Sinner is able to play Rome.
Nice piece but your obvious beef with Zverev coming through as usual. I think it's exagerrated to say that Sinner's ban will have huge implications for Zverev's career. Yes, the #1 ranking has always been a goal for him, but i don't think it would mean much to him if he achieved it through Sinner's absence only. He became #2 last year for the first time and still acknowledged that Carlos and Jannik were the two top players, sharing the 4 Slams between them. So for him, unless he wins a Slam it's probably not going to mean all that much.
Not really defending Zverev here, he is certainly a bit of a bully but that he even got that far as a type 1 diabetic is a huge achievement.
Reaching #1 or not is a huge, huge deal for a career. That’s first paragraph of obituary stuff for any top player. It wouldn’t even really be all that asteriskable.
Yeah that is true. And had Sinner missed 2 Slams and Zverev accidently wins one of them, it would still feel pretty legit. There is always a chance another player eliminates your nemesis and no one cares at the end of the day if your name is etched onto the trophy. I think him not being informed on the basics of the Sinner case but being a member of the players council is also a bit typical of Zverev.
This entire time it always seemed like Sinner was getting special treatment, whether guilty or innocent. The ability to negotiate and cut a deal, something I have not heard of with doping cases, seems to be the icing on the cake for special treatment. Sinner has lost a fan in me just for that.
Completely outrageous and unacceptable after what Halep went through. I honestly don't know how any of Sinner's rivals can stomach this. A horrible look for tennis in every possible way and a decision that will scare away many casual fans, because who wants to watch future finals where the cheater is still the best player?
Totally different cases, and you need to look at the detail of how and how quickly they explained it to understand why. Halep was harshly treated, but the testing regime is very harsh if you can’t explain rapidly what happened. That is a key difference.
I still don't quite buy it. The study on Clostebol contamination published in Italy (2020), the physio's cut & band-aid, the miscommunication within the team, Sinner's bulking up in 2023, his problems when matches get physical... it all seems a little too perfect and pre-arranged. I still think the team may have wanted to optimize his rehab (they have prestigious jobs and want to gain an edge), massaging him with Trofodermin, possibly without him knowing...
Apparently Clostebol clears your system pretty quickly and if microdosing is really a thing who's to say there is no benefit. If it enhances a player's regeneration, whether through Placebo effect or not, it could make a difference on court even if the drug is not considered to be directly performance enhancing.
If it’s without him knowing that’s exactly the same. Except the amounts were too tiny to benefit him so that hypothesis fails. And people bulk up through doing gym work. lol at Alcaraz, De Minaur, all of them.
Thanks as always for your informative piece.
I think the headline that Sinner was spared the worst is very much the case, and not just because the “upper range” might have been a 3m ban. I know many were speculating about this before this settlement but in truth, according to the applicable law and CAS case law, the 3m ban was not an available option if CAS had determined he bore no significant fault/negligence in his case given that his ADVR was for a non-specified substance. The TADP does not allow a reduction more than half of the maximum (being 1 year) (hence why WADA were asking for 1-2 years). A 3m ban would accord with a low level of fault/negligence based on the applicable case law, had the substance been a specified substance. As such CAS was facing the prospect of having to decide on no fault at all (0 years banned) and if low fault/negligence (at minimum 1 year). I think WADA’s settlement is recognition that was an unfavourable option for CAS given the basic facts of contamination (which they were not disputing, merely the scope of Sinner’s negligence re his staff) that ran the risk of a bad precedent in either case. In this regard I think it was a pragmatic decision by WADA to potentially avoid a loss (or a win that would have potentially been a bad precedent), and an even more pragmatic assessment by Sinner to avoid a potential longer ban where the relevant law and case law could never have allowed a lower range ban less than 1 year for even low negligence and fault. A 3m ban would never have been available to him at hearing and he would have had to demonstrate no ban at all or face the prospect of at min 1 year even with low fault/negligence.
On the issue of whether the settlement represents an “admission of guilt” by Sinner, WADA has never alleged in its appeal that Sinner intended to cheat and said expressly in its statement announcing the settlement that he “did not intend to cheat” so I am not sure what guilt he would be admitting to beyond accepting that he bore some fault and negligence at the low end.
Nice piece. I saw The Athletic reported that he will be allowed to train from April 13. Is that right? I never heard of suspended players not being able to "train." What does that even mean? He can't run on a treadmill or go for a walk? Seems hard to believe. ... On the last paragraph about players having a lot of time to think about what it means, I'll take the "under" on the thinking. Always take the under on thinking in tennis.
I‘ve just read that Sinner trained with Lehecka on february 14th, which is either a breach of the agreement or the agreement was backdated, so that Sinner is able to play Rome.
Nice piece but your obvious beef with Zverev coming through as usual. I think it's exagerrated to say that Sinner's ban will have huge implications for Zverev's career. Yes, the #1 ranking has always been a goal for him, but i don't think it would mean much to him if he achieved it through Sinner's absence only. He became #2 last year for the first time and still acknowledged that Carlos and Jannik were the two top players, sharing the 4 Slams between them. So for him, unless he wins a Slam it's probably not going to mean all that much.
Not really defending Zverev here, he is certainly a bit of a bully but that he even got that far as a type 1 diabetic is a huge achievement.
Reaching #1 or not is a huge, huge deal for a career. That’s first paragraph of obituary stuff for any top player. It wouldn’t even really be all that asteriskable.
Yeah that is true. And had Sinner missed 2 Slams and Zverev accidently wins one of them, it would still feel pretty legit. There is always a chance another player eliminates your nemesis and no one cares at the end of the day if your name is etched onto the trophy. I think him not being informed on the basics of the Sinner case but being a member of the players council is also a bit typical of Zverev.
This entire time it always seemed like Sinner was getting special treatment, whether guilty or innocent. The ability to negotiate and cut a deal, something I have not heard of with doping cases, seems to be the icing on the cake for special treatment. Sinner has lost a fan in me just for that.
It is like an Alford plea in tennis.
Completely outrageous and unacceptable after what Halep went through. I honestly don't know how any of Sinner's rivals can stomach this. A horrible look for tennis in every possible way and a decision that will scare away many casual fans, because who wants to watch future finals where the cheater is still the best player?
Totally different cases, and you need to look at the detail of how and how quickly they explained it to understand why. Halep was harshly treated, but the testing regime is very harsh if you can’t explain rapidly what happened. That is a key difference.
I still don't quite buy it. The study on Clostebol contamination published in Italy (2020), the physio's cut & band-aid, the miscommunication within the team, Sinner's bulking up in 2023, his problems when matches get physical... it all seems a little too perfect and pre-arranged. I still think the team may have wanted to optimize his rehab (they have prestigious jobs and want to gain an edge), massaging him with Trofodermin, possibly without him knowing...
Apparently Clostebol clears your system pretty quickly and if microdosing is really a thing who's to say there is no benefit. If it enhances a player's regeneration, whether through Placebo effect or not, it could make a difference on court even if the drug is not considered to be directly performance enhancing.
If it’s without him knowing that’s exactly the same. Except the amounts were too tiny to benefit him so that hypothesis fails. And people bulk up through doing gym work. lol at Alcaraz, De Minaur, all of them.