Novak Djokovic has called for significant changes to the anti-doping system in tennis, citing “inconsistencies” in how cases involving top players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek are handled compared to lower-ranked athletes.
World number one Sinner recently accepted a three-month ban after admitting “partial responsibility” for mistakes made by his team that led to positive tests for clostebol in March 2022. Initially facing a potential two-year suspension after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed an earlier exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), Sinner’s case took an unexpected turn when WADA withdrew its appeal.
In a separate incident, Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, received a one-month ban last year after testing positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine.
Djokovic expressed concern about how the current system is perceived by players. “Many players I’ve spoken to in the locker room feel that the process has been mishandled and unfair,” he said. “It seems there’s favoritism; top players appear to influence outcomes, especially if they have access to top lawyers.”
He contrasted the cases of lesser-known players like recently retired Simona Halep, who received a four-year suspension in 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat but had her ban reduced to nine months after appealing, with the struggles of lesser-known athletes who have faced lengthy bans.
Djokovic emphasized the need for reform: “Now is the perfect time to address the system, as it clearly isn’t working for anti-doping. I hope the governing bodies come together to find a more effective approach.”
He noted that the current process lacks consistency and transparency, eroding trust among players toward organizations like WADA and ITIA. “There’s a general lack of trust among tennis players, both male and female, regarding the entire process,” Djokovic added.
As he prepares to return to competition at the Qatar Open following his injury withdrawal from the Australian Open semi-finals, Djokovic is eager for improvements in the anti-doping framework to ensure fairness and accountability in the sport.
Credit: Fox Sports
