{"id":80220,"date":"2025-02-23T14:52:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T19:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=80220"},"modified":"2025-02-23T14:52:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T19:52:18","slug":"sinners-lawyer-reveals-behind-scenes-negotiations-three-month-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2025\/02\/23\/sinners-lawyer-reveals-behind-scenes-negotiations-three-month-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinner\u2019s Lawyer Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations With WADA Over Three-Month Ban"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n

Nearly a week after Jannik Sinner and WADA agreed on a three-month ban related to his doping case, new details have emerged from the player’s lawyer, Jamie Singer, in an interview with the BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite initially seeking a ban of 1-2 years, it was WADA that approached Sinner’s team to propose a settlement and persuade him to accept the terms. Although WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an initial ruling that cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, it was evident from the outset that both parties were keen to avoid the hearing, scheduled for April in Lausanne.<\/p>\n

This was also the main reason why WADA ultimately offered a three-month ban, despite originally pushing for a much longer suspension.<\/p>\n

The decisive moment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Initially rejecting the offer, Sinner’s stance shifted at the beginning of February when negotiations became more concrete. The turning point came on the night of February 14, when discussions between Sinner\u2019s lawyer and WADA intensified, leading to the final decision being made official the following day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“It all happened unbelievably quickly,” Singer said\u2014a statement that holds true, considering that just days before the settlement was formalized, Jannik Sinner was training in Doha, the site of the prestigious ATP 500, his first tournament since winning the Australian Open.<\/p>\n

A strategic compromise<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite missing four Masters 1000 events during his suspension, it soon became apparent that Sinner emerged as the “winner” (in quotes, as he refrains from calling it a victory, hoping to be acquitted like his colleague Iga Swiatek). He won\u2019t miss any Grand Slams, and his ban will end just a few days before his home tournament, the Italian Open in Rome.<\/p>\n

However, Singer revealed that convincing Sinner to accept the agreement was no easy task. “Why would we do that if the first independent tribunal found it was no ban at all, why would I accept three months now?” questioned Sinner in response to his lawyer\u2019s suggestion to \u2018settle for three months.\u2019<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>