Did world’s number one, Sinner, pull a fast one on tennis?

One of the reasons people like sports is that, unlike life, they are fair. Rules count. Three strikes is an out, four balls a walk. No appellate judge can change an umpire’s call although a replay review might give visual proof the base runner called out definitely was off the bag. 

Which understandably is why several tennis stars are outraged by how the world’s No. 1 men’s player, the Italian Jannik Sinner, apparently pulled a fast one on those who govern the game. Or was it a needed one?

There are no home teams in tennis but there are big names. The sport relies on them to be on the court to create interest, provide competition, and draw crowds.

Sinner tested positive last year for trace amounts of Clostebol, a synthetic androgenic steroid often used in sports to enhance physical performance. He appealed the charge, was permitted to compete, and went on to win his second consecutive major title at the Australian Open last month. Then he accepted a three-month ban, which conveniently allows him back in time for the next Grand Slam tournament, the French Open in May. He could have been suspended for two years.

Noting the discipline, one skeptic pointed out, “Banning Sinner for three months from February to the beginning of May is the equivalent of banning Santa from riding his Sleigh between January and November.” 

Indeed Sinner will not be able to play at Indian Wells in March, and that is a huge event, but he was given a virtual free pass to the French, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. If, say in baseball, a similar violation occurred, the suspension would have been for weeks, maybe even months.

Novak Djokovic, who has won more Slams than any other man, 24, and is still near the very top, said, “A majority of tennis players have lost faith in the anti-doping authorities, and there’s a widespread feeling that “favoritism” is being shown to the sport’s biggest stars.”

Of course. Tennis relies on the appearance and performance of the best players to keep the grandstands full and the television ratings high. Do you want to see a player ranked 100th or someone in the top ten? It’s the people, male or female, who get the points and the headlines, who also get the attention.

Djokovic certainly has been one of those, and he earned his triumphs and his recognition in the correct manner. He believes there appears to be a problem with this sport.

“Right now it’s a ripe time for us to really address the system,” said Djokovic, “because the system and the structure obviously doesn’t work. So, I hope that in the near future the governing bodies are going to come together of our tours and the tennis ecosystem and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes.”

Keep hoping, Novak, but many of us will keep doubting. Unfortunately.