Nadal believes in doping integrity

Rafael Nadal has defended Jannik Sinner after the world No.1 tested positive for a banned substance but avoided punishment, saying the Italian would never have considered doping and he was not judged differently just because he is the top-ranked player.

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In March, Sinner tested positive for the steroid clostebol, which can be used to build muscle mass, but was cleared by a tribunal after they learnt that his physio applied a spray to a cut on his own wounded hand before carrying out treatments on the player.

The 23-year-old arrived at the US Open with some of his peers alleging double standards when he was cleared of wrongdoing, whereas others had been provisionally suspended for similar positive tests.

But Nadal said the anti-doping organisations must be trusted.