Jannik Sinner considered quitting tennis during doping controversyTopic:Tennis36m ago36 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 9:47pmJannik Sinner won the Australian Open just weeks before accepting a doping suspension. (Getty Images: Clive Brunskill)In short:Jannik Sinner says he thought about giving up tennis in the lead-up to accepting a doping ban.Sinner was handed a three-month suspension in February.What's next?Sinner is expected to return from his ban at this month's Italian Open.abc.net.au/news/tennis-jannik-sinner-speaks-on-doping-ban/105237072Link copiedShareShare articleMen's world number one Jannik Sinner admits he thought about walking away from tennis prior to accepting a three-month doping ban earlier this year.Sinner accepts doping ban after a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).Sinner accepts doping banPhoto shows Jannik Sinner holds up Australian Open trophy.Jannik Sinner, the number-one ranked men's tennis player in the world, accepts a three-month suspension for two positive doping tests after striking a deal with WADA.WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against an independent tribunal's decision last August to clear Sinner, who had tested positive for anabolic agent Clostebol.Sinner claimed the banned substance entered his system from a member of his support team through massages and sports therapy.He defended his Australian Open title in January, with the WADA case in the background.Sinner said he considered giving up tennis at the time."I remember before the Australian Open this year, I was not in a very happy moment because there was still that case of doping," Sinner told Italian broadcaster RAI."I didn't feel really comfortable in the locker room, where I ate."It was a bit like some players looked at me differently and I didn't like it at all. And there I said it's heavy to live tennis in this way."I didn't feel comfortable."Sinner says he felt distracted during his Australian Open title defence. (AP: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)Sinner was then forced into a break by the ban but is now back in training for the upcoming Italian Open this month."Slowly, I'm getting back into the rhythm of real training with a goal in front of me," Sinner said."Sometimes it goes very well, sometimes there is a drop and I don't know why, so I will certainly be very happy to return to the court."Especially in Rome, it is a special tournament for me, but I certainly enter with a slightly different mentality. I miss the competition.Purcell accepts doping banPhoto shows Max Purcell smiles during a press conferenceTwo-time grand slam doubles champion Max Purcell accepts an 18-month doping ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency."I am certainly very happy that this phase is now over and we are ready to start again."Sinner's settlement attracted criticism from both current and former players.Serena Williams claimed she would have been banned for 20 years and had major titles taken away had she tested positive in a similar fashion."Everyone is free to say what they want, everyone can judge, but that's OK," Sinner said."It's important to me that I know how that happened, but above all also of what I went through and it was very difficult."I don't wish it on anyone to really pass as innocent something like that because it wasn't easy, but we are in a world where everyone can say what they want, so it's OK."ReutersPosted 36m ago36 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 9:47pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)SportGovernment to override 15 planning laws for 2032 Olympic venuesTopic:Olympic Games VenuesPhoto shows A politician looking away from the camera.Everything you need to know about Women's State of Origin and Magic RoundTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows A woman runs the ball during a rugby league match 'One of the weirdest matches I played': Świątek reaches Madrid Open semisTopic:TennisPhoto shows Iga Świątek plays a backhand return at the Madrid Open.Adelaide Lightning in limbo amid stand-off with WNBLTopic:WNBLPhoto shows An Adelaide Lightning player lays the ball up.This 14yo is shattering cricket's 'youngest ever' records — why is it causing controversy?Topic:ExplainerPhoto shows Vaibhav Suryavanshi wears a helmet on his headTop StoriesHackers have stolen almost 100 staff logins at the Big Four banks, experts sayTopic:Cyber CrimePhoto shows A generic graphic image including a gold dollar sign and some websites.Dutton turns to Voice as cost of living alone won't save the CoalitionDAnalysis by David SpeersPhoto shows Anthony Albanese NPC for Speers ColumnCoalition to release 'materially better, in double digits' budget costingsTopic:BudgetPhoto shows a bald male politician wearing glasses speaks in front of a man standing behind himUS, Ukraine sign deal two months after Oval Office clashBREAKINGPhoto shows Volodymyr Zelenskyy wearing all black with his left palm on his chest alongside Donald Trump wearing a blue suit and red tieThe strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows green how to vote cards in the background with a text box that says enter your suburbRelated stories'So glad this is finally over': Purcell accepts 18-month doping banTopic:TennisPhoto shows Max Purcell smiles during a press conference'I don't believe in a clean sport': Major winner on Sinner's doping banTopic:TennisPhoto shows Tennis player Jannik Sinner wears a white jumper and shows off a watch on his left wrist at the Australian Open.Sinner accepts three-month doping ban after striking deal with WADATopic:TennisPhoto shows Jannik Sinner holds up Australian Open trophy.Related topicsItalySportTennisTop StoriesHackers have stolen almost 100 staff logins at the Big Four banks, experts sayTopic:Cyber CrimePhoto shows A generic graphic image including a gold dollar sign and some websites.Dutton turns to Voice as cost of living alone won't save the CoalitionDAnalysis by David SpeersCoalition to release 'materially better, in double digits' budget costingsTopic:BudgetBreaking: US, Ukraine sign deal two months after Oval Office clashTopic:World PoliticsThe strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsTopic:ElectionsJust InUS, Ukraine sign deal two months after Oval Office clashBREAKING2m ago2 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:21pm'Dancing to their tune': What Australia's neighbours want after this electionTopic:Elections18m ago18 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:05pm'Sleeping power': The untapped voters that could help decide key seatsTopic:Elections23m ago23 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:00pmRescuers fed up with tourists risking lives for selfies at coastal cliffTopic:Emergency Services24m ago24 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 9:59pmMore Just InBack to top