Jannik Sinner’s Australian coach, Darren Cahill, rushed to the aid of his Grand Slam-winning protégé when the Italian star became embroiled in a doping scandal.
The fact that Sinner escaped a ban by the tennis federal administration after he had two positive doping tests for a banned steroid sparked further accusations that there are double standards in the sport.
But Cahill admitted that the incident left Sinner so ill that he missed the Olympics with tonsillitis. He insisted that the 23-year-old, who tested positive after receiving massages from his physiotherapist, had done nothing wrong.
The two tests took place in March, but Sinner, the world number one, was allowed to continue playing and at the same time fight to clear his name, including at the French Open and Wimbledon, before withdrawing from the Paris Olympics, citing tonsillitis.
Cahill, the Adelaide “super coach” who is also responsible for the success of other world number ones such as Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Simona Halep, told ESPN: “He was struggling. And I think that left him physically and mentally exhausted.”
“He was sick a few times. He got tonsillitis, which caused him to miss the Olympics.
“We are not looking for trouble or anything like that because we are very grateful that there is no ban associated with it.
“But I just want to stress that he is a great guy, he is incredibly professional, he is perhaps the most professional young man I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
“He would never do anything intentionally and he is in an incredibly unfortunate situation.
“And then the truth came out about exactly what happened – there was no mistake, no negligence – and hopefully he can put this behind him now and get on with playing and recover.”
Sinner’s physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi massaged Sinner, but failed to notice that the healing spray he used to treat a cut on his finger did not contain the banned steroid clostebol.
Neither he nor fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, who provided Naldi with the spray, were with Cahill and assistant coach Simone Vagnozzi as the Australian Open champion prepared for the US Open, which begins next week in New York.
“We are currently working on this decision. At the moment, only Simone and I, the two coaches who are here, the tennis coaches, are here. And we are supporting Jannik at the moment.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Tuesday that an independent court had granted Sinner permission to continue participating in tennis.
However, this could not prevent a backlash from Sinner’s professional colleagues: Australian star Nick Kyrgios claimed it was “ridiculous” that he had not received a two-year ban.
Cahill replied: “I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I know this is a highly sensitive issue for everyone: all coaches, all players, all fans.”
“I think over time, this will not affect Jannik’s legacy in the game. I think people will understand that when they read the entire statement and what he went through and how they determined that he was neither at fault nor negligent. I think you will understand.”
Denis Shapovalov, another leading player, was unimpressed by the acquittal, even though Sinner was stripped of 400 ranking points and $325,000 ($480,000 Australian) in prize money for his offenses.
“I can’t imagine what every other player who has been suspended for contaminated substances is feeling right now,” the Canadian wrote on social media.
“Different rules apply to different players.”
With AP
