Sinner is about to return from the ban, and Nadal rarely reveals his views on Sinner's ban!

Recently, Nadal defended Sinner and called him "innocent and moral" when talking about the Italian's suspension. The Spanish tennis superstar believes the case is closed after Sinner received a three-month ban.

Sinner tested positive twice for the banned drug closstib in March 2024. In August, after the news became public, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued a "no fault" verdict against him. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the verdict and sought a two-year ban for the Italian.

Subsequently, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was scheduled to hear the case in April 2025, but the world number one reached an agreement with WADA in February and accepted a three-month ban.

Nadal attended the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony on Monday, April 21 and was asked about the case in an interview with The Telegraph. "In the end, if I'm not mistaken, the verdict showed him not guilty...... But in this case, it's not good for our sport, tennis. But this kind of thing happens from time to time, and accidents are inevitable, and the reason why I think so is because I believe in him. Nadal said. As far as what I know about Yannick, I'm sure he never tried to cheat or take advantage of others. I'm sure Yannick is an innocent and moral person. He added.

Nadal is confident in the entire trial process of the banned drug case and its outcome. He stressed that while the information available to the outside world may be limited or subjective, the authorities in charge of the case have access to all the necessary details, "I trust the verdict." Yannick has accepted the three-month penalty, so the case is closed. ”

In the same interview, Nadal also defended the impartiality of the tennis anti-doping protocol after the Sinner incident. He said the current system is recognised by all players and should be respected. "If we're not happy with how the protocol works, then it's clear that the people involved need to work on improvement. But I don't like to speak ill of our sport. At the end of the day, these protocols are accepted and signed by all of us. He said.

Sinner was suspended until May 4. He will miss a total of 12 ATP Tour-level tournaments, including four Masters series. However, he will return in time for the Rome Masters in his hometown. With Zverev and Alcaraz unable to seize the chance to claim the world No. 1 spot in Sinner's absence, Sinner will be the top seed in the tournament.

At the same time, Draper also gave his opinion on the Sinner affair. The Englishman has firmly expressed his belief in Sinner's potential and character. He also mentioned that Sinner's three-month ban was most likely a misunderstanding. He analysed the social media attacks Sinner endured during his suspension and denied that there was any basis for those attacks, making it clear that Sinner should not be treated as such.

'When someone asks me about Jannick, I'm telling the truth, I think he's a very genuine, friendly guy and he's an incredible player. In this case, I believe that he is completely ignorant of what is happening. Life is like that – sometimes mistakes go wrong. Draper said in an interview with BBC News.

Draper also disagreed with Sinner's criticism, emphasizing that the Italian he knew was a kind person who should not be blamed.

"As far as my personal opinion of him goes, I think people should know and realize that he is a good and upright person. He didn't deserve that hatred. He added.

Sinner's last appearance was at the Australian Open, where he won his third Grand Slam title against Zverev. Despite the ban, Sinner retains the world No. 1 ranking. However, he will need to adjust quickly to retain the title.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark)