Milan, April 23 (LaPresse) – “He came out of the ruling as innocent. It wasn’t a positive thing for tennis, but these things sometimes happen, accidents occur, and I consider it just that—an accident—because I believe in Jannik,” said Rafa Nadal, expressing his support for Jannik Sinner in the Clostebol case that led to the current world No. 1’s three-month suspension.
“I’m convinced, from what I know of him, that he never tried to cheat or gain an unfair advantage. I am sure Jannik is an innocent person with strong values,” the Spanish champion added in an interview with The Telegraph.
“I don’t want to question the verdict,” Nadal continued. “There are protocols we have all followed throughout our careers. In this case, the authorities had all the information, even if such information can often be limited and subjective. I believe in the verdict: Sinner and WADA reached an agreement, and the case is closed now.”
“If we don’t like how the protocols work, then the people involved should work to improve them. But I don’t like to speak badly about our sport. In the end, those protocols are the ones we’ve all accepted and signed,” Nadal concluded, referencing criticism from players and insiders about unclear doping protocols.
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