Tennis legend Jimmy Connors has proclaimed he doesn’t think tennis could “survive” Jannik Sinner’s ban for his failed drug tests.

The former world number 1 believes that the sporting authorities have shown in the past that “they are not afraid to hit lower-ranked players and eliminate them from the game”.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that Sinner had avoided a suspension for failing two doping tests in March after an independent tribunal ruled he was not responsible.

The Italian tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18, during and after the Indian Wells Masters.

The court accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance entered his body during a massage from his former physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut finger.

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It was announced earlier this month that the World Anti-Doping Agency had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the world number 1.

A statement from WADA said: “WADA is of the view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules.

“WADA requests a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking disqualification of any results except those already imposed by the trial court.

Speaking in an episode of Connors Advantage podcast, Connors

“It’s his escape.” Once on the field, he has too many things to think about. His own game, his opponent. He knows what it will take to win,” said the eight-time Grand Slam champion.

“But what do you do for the remaining 20 hours of the rest of the day? I’m not that close to it that I understand how much of a grain of salt that is. And to be honest, it’s not my style to be part of it.

“Look, all I know is I don’t think tennis at this level can survive this to hit a top player.

“They have shown in the past that they are not afraid to hit lower ranked players and eliminate them from the game. But I don’t know if tennis at this level could handle it.

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