The recent three-month ban of world number 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner has sparked a heated debate among WTA players about the anti-doping system. Sinner, who tested positive for banned substances twice last year, was given no initial penalty but was later settled with a ban until May 4. The settlement resulted in Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff expressing concerns over the system’s reliability.
“I refuse to leave my glass of water unattended,” Sabalenka said during her media day press conference at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. “I don’t really believe they did something, but I believe you have to be over-protective of all the stuff that’s around you.”
Gauff echoed similar sentiments, stating she only takes Advil for pain relief and is hesitant to take medicine due to her fear of accidental contamination. The American tennis player believes the process needs to be updated to better inform players about what they can and cannot take.
However, not everyone shares their concerns. World number 2 Iga Swiatek trusts in the system, stating she followed all instructions and feels that the process was fair for both herself and Sinner.
Despite Swiatek’s reassurance, many players are questioning the reliability of the anti-doping system. Jessica Pegula, a member of the WTA Players Council, believes the system is “completely broken” and inconsistent. She claims fellow players feel similarly distrustful of anti-doping procedures, which can have severe consequences for athletes.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the need to overhaul the anti-doping system to provide more transparency and trust for players.
Source: https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/jannik-sinner-ban-anti-doping-debate-wta-tennis-dubai-iga-swiatek