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Nadal discusses Sinner's doping incident on Spanish TV show
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    Nadal discusses Sinner’s doping incident on Spanish TV show

    NEW YORK — Rafael Nadal told a Spanish television show that he doesn’t think Jannik Sinner intended to use a banned substance and that the current No. 1-ranked man didn’t receive preferential treatment when he was cleared of doping after testing positive twice in March for trace amounts of an anabolic steroid.

    “I trust that he wasn’t punished because those who judged this case determined quite clearly that there was nothing to punish. … I don’t believe the sentence has anything to do with him being No. 1 in the world,” 22-time major champion Nadal said Monday in an interview with “El Hormiguero.”

    Sinner played Tommy Paul in the fourth round of the US Open on Monday night. 

    The International Tennis Integrity Agency said on Aug. 20 that it was determined the banned performance-enhancer entered Sinner’s system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, and that is why the player was not suspended.

    Asked about the matter in New York before the US Open began, Novak Djokovic said he gets why some tennis players question whether there’s a double-standard in the sport.

    Nadal, who sat out the US Open, said: “I believe in someone’s good faith. I know Sinner; I don’t believe that Sinner wanted to dope.”

    “In the end, justice is justice, and I believe in justice,” Nadal said. “I believe in the bodies that have to make decisions and that they do it based on what they believe is right.”

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    Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal recently made headlines when he discussed rising star Jannik Sinner’s doping incident on a popular Spanish TV show. The incident, which occurred earlier this year, raised questions about the integrity of the sport and the importance of maintaining a clean and fair playing field.

    During the interview, Nadal expressed his disappointment in Sinner’s actions and emphasized the need for strict anti-doping measures in tennis. He stressed the importance of upholding the values of honesty and fair play in the sport, and called for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to drug testing.

    Nadal’s comments come at a time when doping scandals have rocked the world of sports, with several high-profile athletes testing positive for banned substances. The issue of doping is a serious concern in tennis, as it can not only tarnish the reputation of individual players, but also undermine the credibility of the sport as a whole.

    In response to Sinner’s doping incident, Nadal called for stronger penalties for players who violate anti-doping rules, including longer suspensions and stricter monitoring. He also urged tennis authorities to take a proactive approach to preventing doping, by implementing more rigorous testing protocols and educating players about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

    Overall, Nadal’s comments on Sinner’s doping incident highlight the need for vigilance and accountability in the world of professional tennis. By speaking out against doping and advocating for a clean and fair playing field, Nadal is setting an example for other players and sending a clear message that cheating will not be tolerated in the sport.