His comments come after the Italian dodged a suspension despite two positive tests earlier this year.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion called the drama surrounding Italy’s Sinner “a tricky situation” and “the nightmare of every athlete”,
Federer added that he trusts that Sinner did not intentionally use the banned substance clostebol.
“It’s not something we want to see in our sport,” he said in an interview with NBC’s Today on Tuesday to promote his new book.
“This type of news, regardless of whether he did something or not ... It’s just noise that we don’t want.”
“I understand the frustration about ‘has he been treated the same as others?’
“I think this is what it comes down to,” he continued.
“I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything [on purpose], but the inconsistency, potentially, [regarding why he did not] have to sit out while they were not 100 per cent sure about what was going on.
“I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered.
“But it is what it is. We have to trust the process as well of everyone involved.”
Sinner has been able to put the controversy aside to reach the US Open quarterfinals, where he meets fifth-seed Daniil Medvedev on Thursday morning (AEST).
AAP
