With the recent news about Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy, Jannik Sinner’s doping saga has also now yet again come into the limelight. Jannik Sinner tested positive for Clostebol in March, after failing two consecutive drug tests. However, according to test reports, there were only trace amounts of that banned substance in his bloodstream. The ITIA accepted his explanation that the substance entered his system through ex-physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, who had used an over-the-counter spray containing that substance. However, later on, WADA reopened the case, and as things stand, the final ruling is expected from CAS in 2025! What does Andy Roddick think about this timing?

Well, the American tennis legend has been quite vocal about these doping controversies in the last few months. In November, Roddick addressed Jannik Sinner’s situation on his podcast and expressed his disbelief that Sinner would knowingly jeopardize his career for a substance that offered no clear advantage. Then recently, Roddick used a dash of sarcasm by saying, that if Jannik Sinner deliberately used Clostebol, the Italian would be then the “best player on Earth and worst doper that’s ever lived.“

What does Andy Roddick think about the delay in Jannik Sinner’s case, though? During the recent episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick,’ the tennis legend said, “I saw the news release for it’s like February 11 (CAS hearing). I was like can you this sh-t together and let this guy get some clarity? He’s in a situation, his people have put him in a situation. So, it’s not like I’m crying for Jannik Sinner but if you make this big announcement in like late September that you’re going to go after him and then you drag your feet for another 6 months. It just comes off as completely unprofessional.“

He further added, “Saying like the director going, ‘Well, you can bump into someone on the street and that could be contaminated’, like, they just look so unorganized and stupid frankly.” Andy Roddick also predicted how long Jannik Sinner will be banned for, after the AO. Everyone now is looking at the date of February 11th to get this answer.

According to Roddick, “If it’s one month, March 11th that’s borderline Indian Wells, and can probably play Miami [Open]. If we go to April 11th, he misses Indian Wells and Miami which sucks but it isn’t the end of the world. If it’s three months, May 11th, Roland Garros starts May 25th. Even if he gets a three-month suspension he doesn’t miss a Slam, which if you’re Jannik Sinner at this point you go thank you, done. If he gets a six-month suspension, that’s brutal, all of a sudden you’re cleared two weeks before the US Open. That’s like you’re screwing [him], that’s a big one, and that feels steep.“

Andy Roddick also mentioned that he doesn’t believe Jannik Sinner was purposefully doping and that if he was, he should be suspended for much longer. Both Sinner and Swiatek have faced quite a lot of backlash in the last few days and here are some of the moments when this American legend stood beside these tennis stars.

Andy Roddick’s reply to claims that Jannik Sinner got “special treatment”

Many players including, Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov were spotted raising a few question marks on the initial decision to clear Jannik Sinner. They felt it was unfair to other players who had received bans for contaminated substances. After hearing about all these, Andy Roddick stepped into the discussion on this topic and shared his views on the same. 

He said he believes that Jannik Sinner’s prompt actions, in this case, got him on the front foot. According to Roddick, since Sinner managed to know the actual source and talked to his team about the problem in a short time span, he perhaps might have given that time grace and didn’t have to stop playing. Roddick feels the problems arise when in other cases players don’t know where it came from and they need more time and can’t even afford an army of lawyers quickly.

“Jannik Sinner did that, which is why people are saying ‘he got special treatment,’” said Roddick. Recently, he also shared his thoughts on Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy. What did he say? Interestingly, in this case, Roddick claimed, “I can’t call it doping. It’s like taking a melatonin for jet lag at 2:30 in the morning in Cincy and having… think about how many things had to go wrong for Iga Swiatek to get popped for melatonin and something that was contaminated.” Do you agree with Roddick’s thoughts on both cases, though? Share your thoughts in the comments below?