MADRID — The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) clarified on Monday the rationale behind the significantly different doping sanctions imposed on top-ranking tennis player Jannik Sinner compared to Spanish figure skater Laura Barquero, who received a six-year ban for a similar violation.
Recent discussions in Spanish media have focused on Barquero’s suspension after she tested positive for the anabolic substance Clostebol, which is the same drug that led to Sinner’s recent three-month ban, following a settlement with WADA on Saturday. This resolution has stirred criticism among many of Sinner’s peers in the tennis community over the perceived disparity in consequences.
WADA explained that despite both athletes testing positive for the same substance, the specifics of each case were “very different.” They emphasized, in an email, that Barquero’s account regarding the presence of the substance in her system was deemed unconvincing based on the available evidence. In contrast, Sinner’s situation was substantiated by clear evidence that supported his claims as presented in the initial ruling.
Barquero’s troubles began with her first positive test for Clostebol during the 2022 Winter Olympics and continued when she failed another test in January 2023, which was conducted by the International Skating Union. The agency ultimately reached a “case resolution agreement,” leading to her lengthy suspension, which was officially accepted and signed by all involved parties, including WADA, the ISU, and Barquero herself. WADA indicated that if Barquero disagreed with her sanction, she had the option to contest it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) instead of agreeing to the terms.
For Sinner, WADA had initially recommended a suspension of at least one year, disputing a previous ruling from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) which found that his positive test was the result of accidental contamination from a massage following his trainer’s cut. Ultimately, WADA chose to withdraw its appeal, accepting Sinner’s reasoning, which asserted that there was no intention to cheat involved in the case.
Sinner’s explanation attributed the traces of Clostebol in his sample to a massage administered by his trainer, who had used the substance due to an injury. Meanwhile, Barquero is expected to voice her thoughts publicly later today, as her Instagram has already shared several posts highlighting the stark contrast in penalties between her and Sinner.
