Coco Gauff continues her quest for success in Dubai this week, but her fellow superstar Jannik Sinner is out of the Qatar Open after being handed a three-month ban.
Nick Kyrigos isn’t happy with Sinner’s ban, having been left frustrated that the Italian will only miss three months for his two failed drugs tests.
Sinner accepted a three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), having reached a case resolution agreement.
WADA had initially been seeking a two-year ban, having lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after an independent tribunal found Sinner bore no fault.
The world number one twice tested positive for clostebol, but was found to have been inadvertently contaminated by his physio at the time Giacomo Naldi.
Coco Gauff wasn’t aware of settlement option after Jannik Sinner handed ban
Jessica Pegula has slammed the doping system after Sinner’s decision was confirmed, with her fellow American and WTA star Gauff now issuing her verdict.
Asked if she read the decision in her opening press conference in Dubai, Gauff responded: “Yeah, honestly I’m not up to date on the things of WADA and things like that.
“I didn’t know anything like a settlement was a thing or anything like that. The more popular cases, we see it more as a decision.
“But yeah, I mean, I have no really opinion or thoughts on it. I didn’t really read much even before about how his case went and the details of it.
“Yeah, I trust that everyone is doing what they can to protect the sport. As a player, that’s all I can hope for. Yeah, that’s all I have to say on that.”
Coco Gauff calls for more ‘up-to-date’ process after Jannik Sinner WADA settlement
Sinner can return to training in mid-April, but must wait until May 4 to get back to competitive tournaments.
The world number one could make his return on home soil at the ATP Masters 1000 Rome, with the French Open taking place shortly after.
And despite missing out on several tournaments over the coming months, his case is certain to continue being a major talking point.
Discussing her opinion on the system in general, Gauff noted: “Yeah, no, even beforehand, I would say about a year ago, I had an hour meeting with them just to learn more when it came to our whereabouts and things like that.
“I guess now even more so about contamination and things like that. Me personally, I’m not on any supplements or vitamins.
“I only take Advil because I get scared to take medicine. But I definitely think the process needs to be a bit more up-to-date.
“I remember one time I was sick, I didn’t know what I could take. I got a response two or three days later. At that point, don’t need it.
“But yeah, I definitely think the process needs to be more up-to-date when it comes to players knowing what we can and can’t take.
“Obviously with the contamination thing, I would say that they are definitely pretty thorough on that side of things, at least with my meeting with them.
“I know Chris Eubanks went to a meeting in Australia, he asked me if I had any questions. He kept me up to date with that. I couldn’t go because of a time conflict.
“As a player, all these cases, you’re more on edge because at least from what I know, I don’t think any of us are trying to intentionally do anything.
“I think overall it’s wanting to learn more information and not doing anything that can potentially put your career at risk. Yeah, hopefully these next couple months I’ll try to get more details and things like that.”
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