Novak Djokovic has slammed perceived double standards in tennis doping investigations, saying the sport was being “kept in the dark” because of the Jannik Sinner affair.
Djokovic, now coached by Sir Andy Murrayadded his voice to concerns after Nick Kyrgios said this week that the cases involving Grand Slam winners Sinner and Iga Swiatek were “disgusting” for tennis.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accused Sinner and former women’s world number one Iga Swiatek of anti-doping rule violations earlier this year.
Djokovic, aiming for a record 25th major title at the Australian Open next monthteams up with Kyrgios in doubles at the Brisbane International this week and shares some of his concerns amid the cloud over their sport.
“I don’t question whether (Sinner) took the banned substance intentionally or not,” Djokovic told a news conference in Brisbane on Sunday. “We have had many players in the past and currently under suspension for not even testing positive for banned substances.
“Some lower-ranked players have been waiting for their cases to be resolved for over a year. I was really frustrated… that we were kept in the dark for at least five months (on the Sinner case).”
Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March but avoided a ban after the ITIA ruled he was not at fault. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed this decision. Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
Djokovic criticized the lack of transparency from tennis authorities in general regarding anti-doping violations. “The ATP hasn’t really talked about it in depth. Why did they hide this matter from the public? We see The case of Simona Halep on the WTA circuitnow the case of Iga Swiatek,” Djokovic said.
“It’s not a good image for our sport. I’m just wondering how the system works and why some players aren’t treated the same as others. Perhaps ranking reasons are behind this, or some players have more financial backing and stronger legal teams to tackle these cases.
Djokovic is the top seed at the Brisbane International this week, making his first appearance at the event since 2009. He has spoken separately about it being “strange” to have his old rival Murray as coach, but he believes He will benefit from the “new look” at his game.
Murray, who retired after this summer’s Olympics at 37, made the shock decision to join Djokovic’s team in November and recently spent 10 days with the Serb to prepare for the new season.
Although Murray will not be with Djokovic for the Brisbane International, the two-time Wimbledon champion will join him in Melbourne for training ahead of the Australian Open.
“Being on the same side of the net is actually great for a change because he’s been one of my biggest rivals,” Djokovic told the ATP website.
“In a way, it was strange for me to share all these kinds of ideas about what I feel on the ground, to share some of the secrets of what I experience, of what I think about, of the how I see my game with someone who has always been one of the main rivals.
“But I’m very happy and very grateful that he agreed to work with me here in Australia.”
