Sinner's lawyer reveals how the agreement with WADA for the sanction was reached

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A halo of suspicions and unresolved uncertainties continues to envelop the entire doping case of Jannik Sinner. The majority's lack of understanding following the three-month suspension he agreed to with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues to stir controversy, and now very precise details of how the whole process unfolded to reach that point are coming to light.

How can someone convinced of their innocence accept a sanction? Why would an institution like WADA, which meticulously reviews a case and prosecutes an athlete, offer a three-month sanction when just a few days before it had stated its readiness to seek a sanction ranging from 1 to 2 years? These are the two burning questions that plagued the minds of all tennis fans as soon as they learned of the controversial pact that will prevent Jannik Sinner from competing for three months but will not stop him from participating in any Grand Slam events. An investigative report by the BBC sheds light on these mysteries.

- Sinner's lawyer says it was challenging to convince the player to accept the pact

Jannik Sinner was training in Doha amidst rumors that he might face a sanction, waiting for news from his lawyer, Jamie Singer, who was glued to his phone during those days. And rightfully so. On February 15, it was announced that the Italian tennis player had reached an agreement with WADA. "It all happened incredibly fast, in just two days," said a man who managed to capitalize on the last-minute doubts raised by WADA, an institution that had initially appealed and seemed convinced that Sinner would be sanctioned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but over time began to see flaws in their arguments.

It is explained that initial contact between both parties was made by WADA officials, but Sinner's camp rejected it as they wanted to thoroughly prepare his defense. Once the documentation was submitted on January 31, discussions resumed to see if a trial could be avoided. "It was quite challenging to convince Jannik to accept the pact. I told him he should accept the three months because one never knew what could happen in a trial. They were going to seek a one-year sanction, and though there were gaps in their arguments, you never know what decision the judges might reach," explained the lawyer of the world number one.

- WADA members explain that going to trial left only two possible resolutions, neither of which was realistic

Sinner was hesitant to accept a sanction as he was fully convinced of his innocence but eventually heeded his lawyer's advice. "In my opinion, the three months was a good scenario that had to be accepted," remarked Singer. Here arises the question of what led WADA to propose this pact. Ross Wenzel, WADA's general counsel, sheds light on the matter. "There was no substantial change, just a shift in perspective. We received the scientific evidence that it couldn't have been intentional doping, so the scenario at trial was either a one-year sanction or complete exoneration," he revealed.

Based on this, WADA considered that neither of these extreme scenarios aligned with reality and justice after all that had transpired. "In the first case, a fundamental principle of anti-doping law would have been compromised, which states that a positive test must incur some punishment; however, in the second scenario, I don't believe it would have been a satisfactory resolution to the issue," he stated before making a crucial point.

- WADA's offer was more appealing to Sinner's team as it meant not missing any Grand Slam tournaments

"If this had happened two years from now, Sinner would not have received any sanction, just a slap on the wrist," he commented, referring to the regulation change coming into effect in 2027. When asked how everything could be resolved so swiftly, Sinner's lawyer's arguments were firm. "From day one, Jannik acknowledged responsibility for what was in his system. He didn't challenge the science, didn't question the results. This allowed us to not waste time or money on that but focus on the evidence of how that substance entered his body, proving everything clearly," he emphasized.

It is not lost on anyone that the timing of the sanction is opportune since Jannik Sinner will not miss any Grand Slam events. "That made the offer more attractive to us," acknowledged a Jamie Singer who did an exceptional job, leading to the resolution of a case that looked grim and has not only not been dramatic for the player but will also change how similar cases are managed.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El abogado de Sinner desvela cómo se gestó el pacto con la WADA para la sanción