Did doping scandal impact Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from Paris Masters?

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the ongoing Paris 1000 Masters on Tuesday due to an illness. 

"This is not an easy announcement to make," the Italian said via social media. "My team and I arrived early to prepare as best as possible, but unfortunately, I started feeling unwell during training and saw the doctor on Sunday. It turns out I've come down with a virus. I'm feeling better now, but I'm still not ready to compete here in Paris."

Sinner added that he's "focusing on recovery" and hopes to play in the year-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. 

While there's no reason to doubt the legitimacy of the illness, Kevin Palmer of Tennis365 brought up comments made by Darren Cahill, Sinner's coach, after the Italian was cleared of wrongdoing in the doping scandal by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August. 

Back then, Cahill told ESPN that the doping case had taken a mental toll on Sinner, which forced him to skip an event as vital as the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis. Cahill hinted that Sinner may have taken the trip to the Olympiad if he wasn't mentally fatigued by the allegations. 

"You would have seen a big change in his physicality and excitement to be on the court, it [the allegations] wore him down physically and mentally, he got tonsillitis and missed the Olympics," Cahill said, via Tennis365. "We are not looking for any sorrow. Just thankful there is no ban attached."

Of course, a lot has changed since Cahill made those comments and the ITIA cleared Sinner. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rejected ITIA's verdict and instead called for Sinner to be banned "between one and two years" after filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Sinner is currently awaiting the results of the CAS investigation. According to the BBC, the CAS received WADA's appeal on Oct. 4 and confirmed that arbitration proceedings were underway. The CAS panel's decision will be final and binding but will give both parties, Sinner and WADA, the right to appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days.

The 23-year-old Italian holds an incredible 65-6 record in 2024, capturing seven titles and two majors. He has secured the year-ending World No. 1 ranking regardless of who prevails in the upcoming ATP Finals.