Nick Kygios leads outrage as Jannik Sinner escapes drugs ban - but one rival stands up for Italian
Nick Kyrgios wants Jannik Sinner to be banned
PA
Nick Kyrgios and other tennis stars have lamented the decision from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) not to suspend Jannik Sinner following his two failed drug tests.
The world No 1 was cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid back in March.
The two tests were conducted eight days apart with Sinner testing positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a banned substance that can be used to build muscle mass.
Sinner was originally handed a provisional suspension over the failed tests, but succeeded in his challenge to continue playing.
Nick Kyrgios wants Jannik Sinner to be banned
PA
He has now been completely cleared of any wrongdoing after the ITIA found the failed test resulted from 'contamination from a support team member'.
The ITIA accepted Sinner's argument that the substance was from an over-the-counter spray used by his physiotherapist on a cut.
But the news caused uproar online among Sinner's peers with Kyrgios leading calls for the Italian to be banned.
"Ridiculous - whether it was accidental or planned," he said originally.
"You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years.
"Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice."
He added: "Well at this point, players who do blow get more of a punishment then players who do steroids.
"Denis Shapovalov also suggested that there was a lack of consistency from the sport's governing body.
He said: "Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now.
Jannik Sinner won the Cincinnati Masters on Monday
REUTERS
"Different rules for different players."French star Lucas Pouille simply posted:
"Maybe we should stop taking us for fools, no?"
However, not all tennis pros jumped on Sinner's back with John Millman defending the world No 1.
"Before jumping to conclusions, Jannik Sinner had less than a billionth of a gram in his system," Millman said.
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Jannik Sinner's drug test came at the Indian Wells tournament
GETTY
"I believe him (100 per cent) maybe we should change threshold cater for contamination.
"Finally why the uproar for this when we allow athletes in all sports, including tennis, to abuse TUE’s?
"Furthermore, the ITIA handled this 1000x better than the butcher job with Simona.
"Jannik is about as good a person that exists on tour.
"At least read the report before you pass judgement."