Nadal gives Sinner benefit of the doubt

Rafael Nadal accepts that Jannik Sinner has no fault in the controversial doping case which has bubbled along the sidelines of the US Open.

The veteran Spaniard who skipped the final major of the season, has passed his first opinion on the subject, saying the Italian world No. 1 has been found not culpable and that should be the end of the matter.

Sinner twice came up positive to it  last spring but was absolved of fault or negligence by anti-doping authorities.

The incident has sparked controversy around the Open, with controversial Nick 
Kyrgious, now more of a commentator than an ATP player, slamming Sinner.

But Nadal has a more measured, thoughtful approach.

“I know Sinner and I don’t think he wanted to dope. Justice is justice and I don’t think we have to like it only when it is resolved in the way we think,” the 38-year-old told Spanish outlet El Hormiguero..

“I believe in the bodies that have to make decisions and they make them based on what they believe is correct.

“I trust that if he has not been sanctioned it is because those who have had to judge this case have clearly seen that what happened was not punishable.

“I don’t think they have judged him as innocent simply because he is the world No 1. Everyone’s opinion is respectable and mine is this.”

Anti-doping bosses ruled after investigation that the substance entered the player’s body through a product his now-sacked physio used during a massage.