World number one, Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, has talked about the loss of faith in his friends in light of a recent doping scandal, revealing that many players turned on him.
Sinner was quoted by Corriere dello Sport referencing Sky Sport:
I firmly believe that nothing happens by chance, and perhaps this incident helped me realize who my friends really are. I discovered that there are many players I considered my friends, though I wasn’t viewed the same by them, while others were not my friends at all.
In March 2024, Sinner tested positive for the banned substance clostebol two times. An independent tribunal from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found him not guilty. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed, seeking a suspension for Sinner ranging from one to two years.
Sinner is currently the world number one in singles, a 17-time ATP tournament winner, and champion of the Next Generation ATP Finals in 2019. He also contributed to Italy’s success in the 2023 Davis Cup.