Tennis star Novak Djokovic has voiced his frustration over the anti-doping agencies, citing a lack of trust among players following Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have come under scrutiny for perceived favoritism towards top players.
Sinner reached an agreement with WADA to accept a ban that will allow him to compete in the French Open without missing any Grand Slam tournaments. However, this leniency has raised concerns among other players, who feel that those at the top of the sport are being treated differently.
In contrast, Iga Swiatek was given a one-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, which she claimed was an accident due to contaminated medication. Djokovic believes that this disparity in treatment is damaging the sport’s image and eroding trust among players.
Djokovic says that he understands Sinner’s innocence but emphasizes that other players are frustrated with the inconsistent handling of doping cases. He cited examples like Simona Halep, who received a four-year ban before it was reduced to nine months, and Tara Moore, whose positive test was later attributed to contaminated meat.
The 24-time major winner calls for an overhaul of the anti-doping agencies’ processes, emphasizing that the current system is “not working.” He hopes that the governing bodies will come together to find a more effective way to address doping cases in the near future.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/novak-djokovic-jannik-sinner-doping-3407d7dc8b961ae3962fec4f5055a864