Jannik Sinner's Australian coach Darren Cahill has jumped to the defence of his grand slam-winning charge as the Italian star found himself embroiled in a drugs controversy.
Sinner's avoidance of a ban by tennis chiefs after providing two positive drugs tests for a banned steroid continued to spark accusations of double standards operating in the sport.
But Cahill, who also revealed the episode had made Sinner so ill that he missed the Olympics with tonsillitis, insisted the 23-year-old, whose positive tests came after massages given by his physio, had done no wrong.
The two tests happened in March but world No.1 Sinner was allowed to carry on playing while fighting to clear his name, including at the French Open and Wimbledon, only to pull out of the Olympics in Paris, citing tonsillitis.
Cahill, the Adelaide 'supercoach' who has also been behind the success of other world No.1s like Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Simona Halep, told ESPN: “He’s struggled. And I think it’s worn him down physically and mentally.
"He’s gotten sick a couple of times. He got tonsillitis, which is the reason why he missed the Olympics.
“We’re not looking for any sorrow or anything because we’re quite thankful that there is no ban attached.
“But I just want to stress that he’s a great kid, he’s incredibly professional, he’s maybe the most professional young man that I’ve ever had the chance to work with.
"He would never, ever intentionally do anything, and he’s in a situation that’s incredibly unfortunate.
“And the truth came out exactly what happened – there’s no fault, no negligence – and, hopefully, he can get this behind him now and continue to play and get better.”
Sinner’s physio, Giacomo Naldi, gave Sinner the massages but failed to ensure a healing spray he used to treat a cut finger didn't contained the banned steroid, clostebol.
Neither he nor fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, who supplied the spray to Naldi, were with Cahill and co-coach Simone Vagnozzi as the Australian Open champ were preparing for the US Open, which starts in New York next week.
“We’re working through that decision at the moment. At the moment, it’s just Simone and I, the two coaches that are here, the tennis coaches, that are here. And we’re supporting Jannik at the moment.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Tuesday an independent tribunal had cleared Sinner to continue competing.
But that didn't prevent a backlash among Sinner's fellow pros, with Australian star Nick Kyrgios claiming it was “ridiculous” he didn't receive a two-year ban.
Cahill countered: "I think everybody’s entitled to their opinion. I know this is a highly-sensitive issue for everybody: all coaches, all players, all fans.
“I think, over time, this won’t affect Jannik's legacy in the game. I think people will understand that when you read through the entire statement and what he went through and how they determined him to have no fault or no negligence, I think you’ll understand it."
Denis Shapovalov was another leading player, who was unimpressed by the exoneration, even though Sinner was stripped of 400 ranking points and $US325,000 ($A480,000) in prize money for the offences.
"Can't imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now," the Canadian wrote on social media.
"Different rules for different players."
With AP
