The case of Italian tennis player Yannick Sinner was "a million miles away from doping", a senior World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) official, Ross Wenzel, has said, reports the BBC.

Sinner was suspended for three months three days ago after reaching an agreement with WADA, which had initially called for a suspension of one to two years.

"This was a case that was a million miles away from doping. The scientific feedback we received was that this could not be a case of intentional doping, including micro-dosing," Wenzel said.

The BBC reports that Wenzel rejected demands for special treatment and said the terms of the suspension, which some argue will have little impact on Sinner, were appropriate in this case and that the tennis calendar was not taken into account.

Sinner's suspension took effect on February 9th and will last until May 4th.

“WADA has received messages from those who believe the punishment is too high and in some respects some say it is unfair to the athlete and others say it is not enough. Maybe that is an indication that, while it will not be popular with everyone, maybe it is an indication that it is the right punishment. When we look at these cases, we try to look at them technically, operationally and we do not do it out of fear of what the public, politicians or anyone else will say,” says Wenzel.