Kyrgios Criticizes Rafael Nadal’s Uncle For Standing Up For Jannik Sinner Amid Drug Controversy

Toni Nadal was recently chastised by Nick Kyrgios for his remarks supporting Jannik Sinner, who tested positive for doping twice in March. 

Sinner, who is presently ranked first in the world, tested positive for low concentrations of the prohibited steroid clostebol during the Indian Wells Masters.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted his argument that the chemical was inadvertently transferred from a teammate via a spray, saving him from a ban.

He emphasised that Sinner had already faced consequences

Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni Nadal backed Sinner wholeheartedly, saying he would never purposefully use illegal drugs. He emphasized that Sinner had already suffered setbacks, like losing prize money and ATP points, and he attacked people who questioned Sinner’s moral character. 

Nadal wrote a column in which he expressed shock at how some people—including other players—were so eager to pass judgment before gathering all the information.

He wrote “It is absolutely clear to me that the Italian player does not want to commit any infraction, and even more so, not to seek any advantage through the use of prohibited substances, I know the player well enough to be able to say without a shadow of a doubt that he is one of the most correct and well-mannered guys on the circuit. For me it is unthinkable that he could act in an unfair manner. There was a problem within his team that he paid for quite dearly with the financial penalty and the loss of ATP points. It leaves me very perplexed how some of the press, instead of criticising the excessive sanctions of other occasions, now demands a similar punishment for the world No 1.I don’t understand how some of his colleagues who know him well, have trained with him and faced him in matches doubt his innocence or want a punishment against him that, strictly speaking, would be absolutely disproportionate.”

Kyrgios was unimpressed by Nadal’s defense of Sinner

Kyrgios, accustomed for his outspokenness, was displeased with Nadal’s support of Sinner. He claimed that if he were in Sinner’s position, Nadal would not have defended him so strongly.

He wrote “If this was me do you think Toni Nadal would come out and defend me? Players know that I ain’t about cheating. Ridiculous, I’m just wondering as to why they waited five months to fire the physio? If they knew about it so early on.”

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