Rome: International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti says critics of Viktor Troicki's doping suspension need to understand the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision better.
Troicki's ban for missing a doping test in April was reduced on appeal from 18 months to 12, and CAS said his "fault was not significant."
Troicki's fellow Serb and friend, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal criticized the role played by the doping officer, and the Serbia Tennis Association called the decision "a major injustice."
Ricci Bitti told The Associated Press at an Olympic meeting on Saturday the CAS decision doesn't mean Troicki was free of fault, adding "You need to read the decision. This is a problem of words. CAS re-confirmed the violation and took into consideration some mitigating circumstances."
Troicki claimed he was advised by the doping officer to write to the ITF explaining he was ill and could not give a blood sample.
