Rafael Nadal has added his considerable weighty support to Jannik Sinner following his two failed drug tests.
Sinner tested positive for a banned substance twice in March but was absolved of fault or negligence by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that clostebol, an anabolic agent that can aid muscle growth, had accidentally entered his system via a product one of his team had used to treat a small wound.
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The decision has been met with criticism in the tennis world, with some players surprised at the speed at which the case was heard.
But Sinner says the quick timeframe was because he could explain the origin of the substance found in his body.
“Every player who gets tested positive has to go through the same process,” he said. “There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment, they are all the same process.
“I know sometimes the frustration of other players obviously.
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“But maybe because they got suspended they didn’t know exactly where it comes from, also what substance, but the main reason is where it comes from and how it entered in his own system.
“We knew it straight away and we were aware of what happened. We went straight away and I was suspended for two, three days. I couldn’t practice and everything.
“But they accepted it very, very fast and that’s why I carried on playing.”
The big criticism around Sinner’s case is not focused on his guilt or innocence, as the focus has been on the process around how his case was handled.
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A lot of players are banned from the sport until their appeal is heard, but Sinner has not had any time away from the court and now Nadal has given his reaction to the story.
“I have a virtue or a defect, which is that I believe in the good faith of people,” he told El Hormiguero.
“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.
“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.”
Nadal’s support will be welcomed by Sinner, who admits the story has been a huge weight on his shoulders in recent months.
Sinner admits the situation has been a dark cloud hanging over him, even though he won the Cincinnati Open last week.
“I always believe that I kept playing tennis because in my mind I knew that I haven’t done anything wrong,” he added.
“I knew that I was very clean and I knew that I was always looking forward to be a fair player.
“Obviously this coming out might change a couple of things but whoever knows me very well knows that I haven’t done and I would never do something what goes against the rules.
“It has been a very tough moment for me and my team. It still is, because it’s quite fresh.
“Here I also know who is my friend and who is not my friend because my friends, they know that I would never do that and sticking together.
“About my reputation, we will see now, moving forward, no? Because this, I can’t really control. So let’s see.”