Djokovic calls for reform in tennis anti-doping system
Novak Djokovic has called for a major overhaul of tennis’ anti-doping system, citing inconsistencies in how cases involving top-ranked players and lower-profile athletes are handled.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion raised concerns following recent doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Sinner, the world number one, was initially exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year. However, following an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Italian accepted a three-month ban on Saturday, acknowledging “partial responsibility” for mistakes made by his team.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner, received a one-month suspension last year after testing positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart drug.
Djokovic believes these cases highlight an unfair system. “A majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled,” he said.
“A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It seems like, it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers.”
In contrast, former world number one Simona Halep was handed a four-year ban in 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat. She later had her suspension reduced to nine months after arguing the result came from a tainted supplement.
Djokovic, who returns to action at the Qatar Open this week, insists reform is necessary. “The system and the structure obviously don’t work,” he said. “It’s inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair.”
(Source: AFP)
