 "Jannik Sinner had first tested positive at Indian Wells in March 2024. Image: Reuters")
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has defended its decision to hand world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner a much shorter three-month doping suspension compared to the six-year ban given to Spanish figure skater Laura Barquero, despite both cases involving the same banned substance - Clostebol.
The significant difference in punishment has sparked a debate, especially in Spain, where media and fans have questioned why Barquero received such a harsh penalty while Sinner was let off with a three-month suspension.
WADA’s explanation
In a statement on Monday, WADA clarified that while both athletes tested positive for the same substance, the circumstances surrounding their cases were different.
“The fundamental difference between the two cases is that Ms. Barquero’s version of how the substance entered her system was unconvincing in light of the evidence, such that the circumstances remained unknown as far as WADA was concerned. In contrast, in the Sinner case, the evidence clearly confirmed the athlete’s explanation as outlined in the first instance decision,” WADA told The Associated Press.
“If Ms. Barquero did not agree with the proposed sanction, she was not obliged to sign the case resolution agreement and was free to take the case forward for hearing at CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport),” WADA added.
Jannik Sinner’s case
Sinner tested positive for Clostebol in March 2024 . The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially ruled that he had unintentionally ingested the substance through a massage from a trainer who had used the steroid on his own finger wound.
WADA initially challenged the ITIA’s ruling, seeking at least a one-year ban. However, on Saturday, the agency withdrew its appeal after accepting Sinner’s explanation and agreed to a settlement that resulted in a three-month suspension.
Laura Barquero’s case
Barquero, on the other hand, tested positive for Clostebol twice, first at the 2022 Winter Olympics and again in an out-of-competition test in January 2023. Unlike Sinner, her explanation for how the banned substance entered her body did not convince WADA. The agency eventually imposed a six-year ban on the skater.
Barquero has been sharing several stories on her social media handle, pointing out the difference in the punishment handed to her and Sinner for testing positive for the same substance. She was expected to make a statement on Monday but has not spoken yet.