February 15, 2025 • 8 mins
A former New Zealand tennis professional can't believe world number one Jannik Sinner was able to negotiate the length of his drugs ban.
The World Anti-Doping Agency shortened a potential two-year ban to just three months following Sinner's positive tests last year.
Lee Radovanovich joined Elliott Smith to express his disappointment.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB story.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
That came out overnight that Yix Center, the men's world
tennis number one, has negotiated a three month ban for doping.
Quite remarkable he's been able to negotiate the Yanick Center
winning the Australian Open not so long ago.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, but no, No, that's a second center.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Three Sextuary seven, six six R.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It's a third pajo.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Quite simple to stop with her yan Accenter accepting an
immediate three month doping ban after he and the World
Anti Doping Agency reached a sentiment on his period of ineligibile,
which means he can return before the French Open in May.
The band began a week ago today February nine. Then
we'll end on May the fourth. He can return to
(01:15):
training in a few weeks time April thirteen. The French
Open main drawl starts May twenty five, so he's not
going to miss any Grand Slam action. Originally, before WADA
settled with Sinner, it was going to be heard by
the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a couple of
months time, and he could have faced a two year
ban joining us to discuss tennis. Commentator for New Zealand
(01:39):
tennis player Lee Radovanovitch on the program Afternoon League, What
was your reaction when you heard that Jannick Sinner had
negotiated a three month ban.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yeah, my reaction was actually around the deal. I thought
it was a bit on the way that sort of
the statement was read in all the way that the
press has come out, seemed like they'd been negotiating a deal.
I would have thought if you've got a positive drug
test and you get banned, and they set the rules
(02:11):
and you take the punishment. So I was a bit surprised.
Not surprised that he got banned, but I was surprised
that there was a settlement as if they were negotiating.
And then also very convenient his three band in between
the Australian Open and the French Open, so he can
still play the French Open. So he was nicky to.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Me, I've never come across before. It doesn't feel like
there should be any bargaining power from the athlete who
was doped to be able to try and boggin down
or whittle down their suspension.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
I completely agree with you. If you've been a naughty
boyan you get banned and you caught the band, right,
you take like a band. So yeah, I don't like it,
to be honest with you. It doesn't really affect them
in any way. Sure, he's going to take three months off,
He'll just train hard, he'll come back, play a couple
of toilets before the French Open, then be the favorite
(03:04):
or the second favorite for the French Open. Obviously it
tarnishes his reputation. But again, and you will see this
in a million sports, it just makes these antidope agencies
look ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
What message does it seem to not only I suppose
tennis players around the globe, but also any sporting athlete
that this is the kind of punishment that's been dished down.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Well, I think the punishment's fine. Three months. Look, I
get I get frustrated with the excuses. You know, we
had Eager soon Tech last year, which she was number
one of the world, taken one month ban for and
her excuse was I took a jet Lag pearl and
the jet Lab pearl was contaminated. Yeah. Whatever. And then
(03:51):
with Sinner, apparently his physio had a cut off his
hand and was using cream for that cut and that
somehow got into the sinner's system. And so the authorities
are saying that, well, he had no fault here, didn't
do it on purpose. That again, is a ridiculous explanation,
(04:12):
is it not.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Well the intention to check? Yeah, no, one.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Really been contaminated by my pay. I was cut on
his hands, who had some cream, like give me it breake.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
He didn't intend to cheat, But I'm you know, I
think back to Sheriapova's case and she was taking heart
medicine and she was saying she didn't intend to cheat.
I'm sure there are any number of athletes that don't
intend to cheat, or at least say they don't intend
to cheat. But just because you've said it doesn't make
it true.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, absolutely, It's just I mean, whether it be tennis
or another athlete, these kind of stories, they come up
with a crazy to need. But I just don't like
the fact that it seems like they've done a deal,
and it's a bit of a sweetheart deal because he
doesn't really miss anything major that's going to affect him, right,
he's what's his goals and tennis win Grand Slams? So
really serious, the banded for longest, So miss grand slaps.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
You were athlete, Sure you were drug tested throughout your career.
Surely the onus is on the athletes to know exactly
what's going on into their body or on their body
at any one time because there are so many restrictions
and so many rules about what you can and can't take.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah. Absolutely, the player is not responsible for himself, but
it's also responsible for its entire team. Remember, these guys
individually are a visitors. They employ lots of people physios,
to as traveling coaches, you name it. It's one hundred
percent of their responsibility to take care of themselves. And
it's not like these guys don't get tested. They need
to be available one hour a day, three hundred and
(05:34):
sixty five days a year to take a drug test
are required, So it's not like there's protocols in place.
But you know, if you make a mistake, then you
pay the price, but you should pay a heavy.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Price if you were still playing.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
What would your reaction to playing Yannick cinner b And
what do you think that the locker room reception might
be around the globe when he gets back into playing tennis.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
I think people will just roll their eyes and say, oh, yeah,
there's another one of those. Look. I don't think let's
say hypothetically he was taking performance and hardship drugs. I
don't think that would give him a massive advantage because
if he's doing stuff like that, the other guys are
doing it. To any endurance sport out there where players
are getting paid millions of dollars. I think you know
(06:18):
you covered Comwealth Games and Olympic Games, the takers are
always ahead of the testers. So in terms of the
players in the locker room, I think they just move
on and it's just part of the deal.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Do you think there'll be a black mark from a
worldwide perspective on Cinners as his career goes forward, a
bit of a black mark on whatever legacy leaves or
will it be sort of forgotten in six months time?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Totaler forgotten in six months time? Would be my thought
that there'll be in the news for the next couple
of days and then he'll come back and he'll start
winning again and things will just go back to normal,
would be my strong opinion on that one.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We've read a vane it's with us on newstalk Z.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
He's back eligible obviously, as you touched on earlier, he
finishes and wins the Australian Open, back for the French
in time. In fact, I think the first tournament eligible
he's back for is an event in his time entry
in Rome. So really he's not missing too much of
the big stuff in tennis at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Is he.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
No, he's not. As I said earlier, his goal in
tennis will be to be Thember one and win Grand Slamp.
So he'll go away, he'll train, He'll be in Luble
shapes for the next three months. It might even be
good for him to take a break and work on
whatever it is he wants to work on his game.
And you know you would, you could install him right
now as a favorite for the French asplet after his.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Band and just finally, Lee, I guess the president. Do
you think there's been a precedent said here that you
can negotiate with you know, whether it's just a bit
of hang cream or whatever, it might be that if
you were done for a positive TESTE then WADA is
willing to bargain with some athletes.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Well, absolutely, I mean every Segue athlete, if they are
in trouble, are going to try to do that now, right,
Maybe he's got a bit more bargaining power because he's
number one in the world and tennis doesn't want to
look bad. And perhaps I've had a history of kind
of sweeping things under the Romans or you know, past players.
But yeah, if you're a top class athlete around the
(08:09):
world in any sport, you can try to negotiate immediately
on you.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
It's fascinating time in the world of tennis and the
world of doping. Lee Radovanovitch, thanks for your time with
us here on news Talk zb this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Nice to catch up.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Okay, good talk to you.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thanks, Lee, appreciate your time with us here on news
Talk ZIBB.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZIBB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB story.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
That came out overnight that Yix Center, the men's world
tennis number one, has negotiated a three month ban for doping.
Quite remarkable he's been able to negotiate the Yanick Center
winning the Australian Open not so long ago.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, but no, No, that's a second center.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Three Sextuary seven, six six R.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It's a third pajo.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Quite simple to stop with her yan Accenter accepting an
immediate three month doping ban after he and the World
Anti Doping Agency reached a sentiment on his period of ineligibile,
which means he can return before the French Open in May.
The band began a week ago today February nine. Then
we'll end on May the fourth. He can return to
(01:15):
training in a few weeks time April thirteen. The French
Open main drawl starts May twenty five, so he's not
going to miss any Grand Slam action. Originally, before WADA
settled with Sinner, it was going to be heard by
the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a couple of
months time, and he could have faced a two year
ban joining us to discuss tennis. Commentator for New Zealand
(01:39):
tennis player Lee Radovanovitch on the program Afternoon League, What
was your reaction when you heard that Jannick Sinner had
negotiated a three month ban.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yeah, my reaction was actually around the deal. I thought
it was a bit on the way that sort of
the statement was read in all the way that the
press has come out, seemed like they'd been negotiating a deal.
I would have thought if you've got a positive drug
test and you get banned, and they set the rules
(02:11):
and you take the punishment. So I was a bit surprised.
Not surprised that he got banned, but I was surprised
that there was a settlement as if they were negotiating.
And then also very convenient his three band in between
the Australian Open and the French Open, so he can
still play the French Open. So he was nicky to.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Me, I've never come across before. It doesn't feel like
there should be any bargaining power from the athlete who
was doped to be able to try and boggin down
or whittle down their suspension.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
I completely agree with you. If you've been a naughty
boyan you get banned and you caught the band, right,
you take like a band. So yeah, I don't like it,
to be honest with you. It doesn't really affect them
in any way. Sure, he's going to take three months off,
He'll just train hard, he'll come back, play a couple
of toilets before the French Open, then be the favorite
(03:04):
or the second favorite for the French Open. Obviously it
tarnishes his reputation. But again, and you will see this
in a million sports, it just makes these antidope agencies
look ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
What message does it seem to not only I suppose
tennis players around the globe, but also any sporting athlete
that this is the kind of punishment that's been dished down.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Well, I think the punishment's fine. Three months. Look, I
get I get frustrated with the excuses. You know, we
had Eager soon Tech last year, which she was number
one of the world, taken one month ban for and
her excuse was I took a jet Lag pearl and
the jet Lab pearl was contaminated. Yeah. Whatever. And then
(03:51):
with Sinner, apparently his physio had a cut off his
hand and was using cream for that cut and that
somehow got into the sinner's system. And so the authorities
are saying that, well, he had no fault here, didn't
do it on purpose. That again, is a ridiculous explanation,
(04:12):
is it not.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Well the intention to check? Yeah, no, one.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Really been contaminated by my pay. I was cut on
his hands, who had some cream, like give me it breake.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
He didn't intend to cheat, But I'm you know, I
think back to Sheriapova's case and she was taking heart
medicine and she was saying she didn't intend to cheat.
I'm sure there are any number of athletes that don't
intend to cheat, or at least say they don't intend
to cheat. But just because you've said it doesn't make
it true.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, absolutely, It's just I mean, whether it be tennis
or another athlete, these kind of stories, they come up
with a crazy to need. But I just don't like
the fact that it seems like they've done a deal,
and it's a bit of a sweetheart deal because he
doesn't really miss anything major that's going to affect him, right,
he's what's his goals and tennis win Grand Slams? So
really serious, the banded for longest, So miss grand slaps.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
You were athlete, Sure you were drug tested throughout your career.
Surely the onus is on the athletes to know exactly
what's going on into their body or on their body
at any one time because there are so many restrictions
and so many rules about what you can and can't take.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah. Absolutely, the player is not responsible for himself, but
it's also responsible for its entire team. Remember, these guys
individually are a visitors. They employ lots of people physios,
to as traveling coaches, you name it. It's one hundred
percent of their responsibility to take care of themselves. And
it's not like these guys don't get tested. They need
to be available one hour a day, three hundred and
(05:34):
sixty five days a year to take a drug test
are required, So it's not like there's protocols in place.
But you know, if you make a mistake, then you
pay the price, but you should pay a heavy.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Price if you were still playing.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
What would your reaction to playing Yannick cinner b And
what do you think that the locker room reception might
be around the globe when he gets back into playing tennis.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
I think people will just roll their eyes and say, oh, yeah,
there's another one of those. Look. I don't think let's
say hypothetically he was taking performance and hardship drugs. I
don't think that would give him a massive advantage because
if he's doing stuff like that, the other guys are
doing it. To any endurance sport out there where players
are getting paid millions of dollars. I think you know
(06:18):
you covered Comwealth Games and Olympic Games, the takers are
always ahead of the testers. So in terms of the
players in the locker room, I think they just move
on and it's just part of the deal.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Do you think there'll be a black mark from a
worldwide perspective on Cinners as his career goes forward, a
bit of a black mark on whatever legacy leaves or
will it be sort of forgotten in six months time?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Totaler forgotten in six months time? Would be my thought
that there'll be in the news for the next couple
of days and then he'll come back and he'll start
winning again and things will just go back to normal,
would be my strong opinion on that one.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We've read a vane it's with us on newstalk Z.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
He's back eligible obviously, as you touched on earlier, he
finishes and wins the Australian Open, back for the French
in time. In fact, I think the first tournament eligible
he's back for is an event in his time entry
in Rome. So really he's not missing too much of
the big stuff in tennis at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Is he.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
No, he's not. As I said earlier, his goal in
tennis will be to be Thember one and win Grand Slamp.
So he'll go away, he'll train, He'll be in Luble
shapes for the next three months. It might even be
good for him to take a break and work on
whatever it is he wants to work on his game.
And you know you would, you could install him right
now as a favorite for the French asplet after his.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Band and just finally, Lee, I guess the president. Do
you think there's been a precedent said here that you
can negotiate with you know, whether it's just a bit
of hang cream or whatever, it might be that if
you were done for a positive TESTE then WADA is
willing to bargain with some athletes.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Well, absolutely, I mean every Segue athlete, if they are
in trouble, are going to try to do that now, right,
Maybe he's got a bit more bargaining power because he's
number one in the world and tennis doesn't want to
look bad. And perhaps I've had a history of kind
of sweeping things under the Romans or you know, past players.
But yeah, if you're a top class athlete around the
(08:09):
world in any sport, you can try to negotiate immediately
on you.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
It's fascinating time in the world of tennis and the
world of doping. Lee Radovanovitch, thanks for your time with
us here on news Talk zb this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Nice to catch up.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Okay, good talk to you.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thanks, Lee, appreciate your time with us here on news
Talk ZIBB.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZIBB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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