Pegula and Sabalenka criticise ‘broken’ anti-doping process in tennis
World number five Jessica Pegula has slammed the handling of high-profile doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, calling the system “completely broken.” Meanwhile, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka admitted she is “too scared” of the anti-doping process and does not trust it.
Sinner’s case was resolved on Saturday when the world number one accepted a three-month ban after twice testing positive for clostebol in March last year. The Italian had initially been cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a two-year ban. However, WADA later withdrew the appeal, reaching an agreement with Sinner for a reduced suspension.
Swiatek, meanwhile, accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine late last year.
Pegula, last year’s US Open finalist and a WTA Players’ Council member, believes the inconsistencies in how cases are handled are creating an unfair environment for players.
“I think my reaction is that, whether you think he did or you don’t, or whatever side you’re on, the process just seems to be completely not a process,” Pegula said in Dubai. “It seems to just be whatever decisions and factors they take into consideration, and they just make up their own ruling.”
Sabalenka, who declined to comment on Sinner’s case, expressed her fears about the system.
“You just start to be more careful,” the Belarusian said. “Now, I’m not going to drink from the same glass of water [at a restaurant]. You just become too scared of the system. I don’t see how I can trust the system.”
American world number three Coco Gauff, meanwhile, said she avoids taking supplements to minimise the risk of testing positive.
(Source: AFP)
