Stan Wawrinka lashed out at tennis authorities as he reacted angrily to the ban handed out to Jannik Sinner. The current world No. 1 has been handed a three-month ban after failing two anti-doping tests last spring but will be allowed to return to action in time for the French Open in May.
Sinner admitted he had “accepted the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) offer” to resolve his case as it had been “hanging over” him for almost a year.
The Italian had insisted throughout the case that he had only tested positive for clostebol because his physio had applied the substance to a cut on his own finger before treating the tennis star.
Wawrinka took to X (formerly Twitter) after Sinner’s ban had been announced and wrote: “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore.”
The Swiss ace then quoted a post from Piers Morgan, which read: “A ‘settlement’? I didn’t realise drug offence punishments in sport could be negotiated… What a joke.”
Wawrinka’s initial post caught the attention of 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, who replied: “You and me both.”
Kyrgios also shared his discontent at the length of Sinner’s ban as he wrote on the social media platform: “So WADA come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban.
“Obviously Sinner’s team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.”
Meanwhile, a host of other tennis figures issued their verdict, with six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Tim Henman telling Sky Sports: “I want to start first and foremost to say I don’t think there’s any way he has been trying to cheat at any stage. I don’t believe that.
“However, when I read this statement this morning, it just seems a little too convenient. It seems there’s words like ‘agreement’ and it almost seems there’s been a negotiation.
“He just won the Australian Open, to miss three months of the Tour and therefore be eligible to play at Roland Garros, the timing couldn’t have been any better for Sinner. I still think it leaves a pretty sour taste for the sport.”
Sinner’s ban runs until May 4, with the French Open getting underway just over two weeks later.
The 23-year-old will be eyeing up his first title at Roland Garros after reaching the semi-finals last year.
He will also be aiming to lift the Wimbledon trophy for the first time in his career this summer after suffering a shock quarter-final defeat at the hands of Daniil Medvedev in 2024.
