Kyrgios Criticizes Sinner's Drug Case Ruling

Nick Kyrgios has urged for a two-year ban on Jannik Sinner after the world No. 1 tested positive for a banned substance, clostebol, twice in March. Despite the controversy, an independent tribunal cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing just days before he was set to compete at the US Open. The tribunal accepted Sinner's explanation that the substance entered his system through massages administered by a member of his support team, who was unaware of the product's contents. Sinner's first positive test occurred on March 10, followed by a second on March 18. Although provisional suspensions were initially applied, Sinner was permitted to continue competing after his team filed urgent appeals. Kyrgios criticized the situation as "ridiculous," questioning whether the substance's presence was accidental or intentional. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced plans to review the tribunal's decision and may consider an appeal. In a statement, Sinner maintained his innocence, emphasizing that the amount of clostebol detected in his system was minuscule, less than a billionth of a gram. He expressed his desire to move past this "challenging and deeply unfortunate period." Sinner's lawyer, Jamie Singer, acknowledged the strict nature of anti-doping rules, which can sometimes ensnare innocent athletes. He affirmed Sinner's innocence while noting that under strict liability rules, athletes are responsible for any substances found in their system, regardless of their awareness.