Barbara Schett exclusive: Jannik Sinner anti-doping ruling showed ‘big inconsistency’ after Simona Halep situation

Eurosport expert Barbara Schett says “there is a big inconsistency” in how the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has ruled on anti-doping cases for different athletes in the sport. Schett believes Jannik Sinner is “100%” innocent after he was cleared of wrongdoing following two failed doping tests, but said other athletes like Simona Halep weren’t offered the same leniency.

Brooksby was banned for 18 months for missing three doping tests, which was later reduced by the ITIA to 13 months.
However, Schett said she believes that Sinner didn’t do it “on purpose”, and praised his ability to continue playing at a high level despite the drama going on behind closed doors.

“I don’t have the answers for it,” she said. “You saw photos with the physio with a bandaid on his finger when he was playing. I know Jannik, but I believe 100% that he would never do anything in regard to doping on purpose. I think it was a little mistake, a very small dosage. The doctors also said with this small dosage, it’s not performance-enhancing.
“So it’s unbelievable that he could actually play the way he was playing while this was going on. It must have been pretty tough mentally for him to have a free mind and compete with this going on, but I’m sure he’s very relieved now.”

The ruling has sparked a mixed reaction from the tennis community, given Sinner was allowed to continue playing and that the case was not made public until Tuesday, August 20.
Speaking to Eurosport about the ruling, Schett questioned the secrecy around the entire process and called for more “consistency” around anti-doping regulation.
The Austrian former world No. 7 pointed to other cases, like two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep and Jenson Brooksby, where athletes were punished for similar mistakes while Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing.

”I don’t know the exact rules and regulations. It seems there is lots of inconsistency when the authorities announce things for the public and when they keep it a secret a little bit longer,” Schett said.
“I’m not in touch with the authorities and don’t know the rules and regulations clearly enough. They obviously wanted to look at this case in a closed environment because there was an obvious explanation for how it happened. When I read it, I believe it.
“But then I look at Simona Halep, Jenson Brooksby, who couldn’t play, there is a big inconsistency. Halep couldn’t play for a long time, was banned for two years pretty much and had to fight hard to get off.
“I thought of Simona immediately and thought about what she would be thinking. I wish there was more consistency. For some players, it gets vocalised in the media more quickly.”
Halep was initially banned for four years after testing positive for a banned blood-boosting substance, which was later reduced to nine months following an appeal from the two-time Grand Slam champion, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that her failed doping test was due to a contaminated supplement.

Brooksby was banned for 18 months for missing three doping tests, which was later reduced by the ITIA to 13 months.
However, Schett said she believes that Sinner didn’t do it “on purpose”, and praised his ability to continue playing at a high level despite the drama going on behind closed doors.

“I don’t have the answers for it,” she said. “You saw photos with the physio with a bandaid on his finger when he was playing. I know Jannik, but I believe 100% that he would never do anything in regard to doping on purpose. I think it was a little mistake, a very small dosage. The doctors also said with this small dosage, it’s not performance-enhancing.
“So it’s unbelievable that he could actually play the way he was playing while this was going on. It must have been pretty tough mentally for him to have a free mind and compete with this going on, but I’m sure he’s very relieved now.”

Sinner went on to win the Miami Open a month after initially failing the doping test at Indian Wells, and this week claimed the Cincinnati Open title with victory over Frances Tiafoe.
The 23-year-old’s results, ranking points and prize money from Indian Wells, where he lost at the semi-final stage, have been taken away.
Schett also explained that Sinner will have to be “strong” to brush off the controversy ahead of next week’s US Open.
“He will be asked every single day at the US Open about this now though, so we’ll have to see how he handles it in New York,” she said. “It’s strange for him to have any negative press, the first time in his career this has happened.
“The reaction has been crazy and this is only the beginning. He has to be strong now in the next few weeks as it will keep coming up. He has to have elephant skin, thick skin.
“It will be interesting when he walks into Arthur Ashe stadium to see how the fans react. We are keeping a close eye on it. He’s such a nice guy and it’s very hard not to like him as he’s very humble.
“However, this is not great for his reputation. But people forget it quickly, with other players, so we’ll have to wait and see. I think he will still have a lot of fans who will back him up on this.”