Cathal Dennehy: No sinners as we're again told intentional doping simply doesn't happen in tennis 

The timing of Jannik Sinner's incredibly 'convenient' ban is purely coincidental, we've been assured this week. Fine. Let's just add it to the list of Sharapova, Cilic, Errani, Swiatek, Halep and many more.

JUST A DROP: Jannik Sinner of Italy drinks a glass champagne during a press conference after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. Pic: AP Photo/Manish Swarup

There’s a colleague I once got to know at a major athletics championship. They worked primarily in tennis, following the world’s best around on the professional tour. A friend of mine got chatting to them that same week and being an athletics nut – a sport well versed in pharmaceutical aid – he couldn’t resist asking about doping.

It was, they responded, an “open secret” on tour that one of the sport’s big names had used steroids. Was that true? I still have no idea, I’m not in that world, but it’d be an odd thing to make up about a player who was widely adored. That conversation was many years ago. The player cited never did test positive (at least that we know of) and was never linked to doping scandals. They’ve since retired with their legacy intact. Game, set and match.