Nick Kyrgios Slams Toni Nadal for Defending Jannik Sinner, Questions Fairness

The tennis world was shattered by Jannik Sinner’s controversial doping test failures. Tennis icon Rafael Nadal’s former coach and uncle Toni Nadal extended his support to Sinner after that incident. Nick Kyrgios recently criticized Toni Nadal for defending Jannik Sinner. Kyrgios challenged Nadal’s comments on the situation.

What Was the Matter?

Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, five months ago. Despite this, he avoided a provisional ban. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that Sinner was not at fault or negligent regarding the drug’s presence in his system.

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the steroid was accidentally transferred from a team member’s spray. This explanation was accepted, so he did not face a suspension. He could continue playing without any ban.

Toni Nadal’s Support to Sinner:

Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, defended Jannik Sinner, asserting that he would never knowingly use banned substances. He said, “It is absolutely clear to me that the Italian player does not want to commit any infraction, and even more so, not to seek any advantage through the use of prohibited substances.”

Later he added,  “I know the player well enough to be able to say without a shadow of a doubt that he is one of the most correct and well-mannered guys on the circuit. For me it is unthinkable that he could act in an unfair manner. There was a problem within his team that he paid for quite dearly with the financial penalty and the loss of ATP points. It leaves me very perplexed how some of the press, instead of criticising the excessive sanctions of other occasions, now demands a similar punishment for the world No 1.”

Lastly, he added, “I don’t understand how some of his colleagues who know him well, have trained with him and faced him in matches doubt his innocence or want a punishment against him that, strictly speaking, would be absolutely disproportionate.”

Kyrgios Opposed That:

Kyrgios criticized Nadal’s defense of Sinner, suggesting that Nadal wouldn’t have defended him so strongly if roles were reversed. Kyrgios has been a vocal critic of the decision regarding Sinner and took issue with Nadal’s comments.

He said, “If this was me do you think Toni Nadal would come out and defend me? Players know that I ain’t about cheating. Ridiculous. I’m just wondering as to why they waited five months to fire the physio? If they knew about it so early on.”

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