As Novak Djokovic prepares to make his eagerly anticipated return to the tennis court at the Brisbane International, the 22-time Grand Slam champion isn’t holding back in voicing his frustrations over what he perceives as a lack of transparency and double standards in the sport’s handling of doping cases – specifically that of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The Serbian superstar, who is chasing a record-extending 25th major title at the upcoming Australian Open, lent his influential voice to the ongoing controversy surrounding Sinner’s positive tests for an anabolic steroid back in March. Despite the Italian’s two failed tests, he managed to avoid a ban after tennis’s International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that Sinner was not at fault.
That decision has since been appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but Djokovic expressed his deep dissatisfaction at being “kept in the dark” about the high-profile case for months on end. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference in Brisbane, the former world No. 1 didn’t mince words.
“I’m not questioning whether (Sinner) took the banned substance intentionally or not, but we’ve had plenty of players in the past and currently under suspension for not even testing positive to banned substances. Some players with lower rankings are waiting for their case to be resolved for over a year. I’ve been really frustrated … to see we’ve been kept in the dark for at least five months (on the Sinner case).”
Novak Djokovic
Lack of Transparency Under Fire
Djokovic’s comments come on the heels of blistering criticism leveled by Australia’s Nick Kyrgios just a day prior. The mercurial Aussie labeled the Sinner and Iga Swiatek doping cases as “disgusting” and accused tennis of sweeping positive tests under the rug to protect its biggest stars.
Swiatek, the former women’s world No. 1, accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for trimetazidine. The Pole’s ban ended up being little more than a slap on the wrist that had negligible impact on her 2024 season.
Djokovic echoed Kyrgios’s sentiments, questioning the lack of transparency from the ATP and the apparent double standards at play. He pointed to the vastly different treatment of Sinner’s case compared to that of lower-ranked players and cases on the WTA Tour like Simona Halep.
“The ATP hasn’t really talked in depth about it. Why have they kept that case away from the public? We see Simona Halep’s case on the WTA Tour, now Iga Swiatek’s case. It’s not a good image for our sport. I’m just questioning the way the system works and why certain players aren’t treated the same as others. Maybe some ranking reasons are behind it, or some players have more financial backing and stronger legal teams to tackle these cases.”
Novak Djokovic
Focused on Tennis Despite Frustrations
Despite his strong stance on the doping controversies swirling around tennis, Djokovic remains laser-focused on his on-court goals as he launches his 2025 campaign. After missing time earlier in 2024 due to knee surgery, the ageless Serb roared back to reach the Wimbledon final and has his sights firmly set on a record-extending 11th Australian Open crown this January.
In a fascinating twist, Djokovic has enlisted his long-time rival Andy Murray as a coach for the Happy Slam. The Scot, who knows a thing or two about battling back from injury, will provide a unique perspective in Djokovic’s push for an astonishing 25th major title.
“It’s strange for me to share all these kinds of insights…with somebody who has been one of my top rivals, but I’m so glad and very thankful that he has accepted to work with me. He’s very meticulous, dedicated, and professional.”
Novak Djokovic on Andy Murray
As the living legend embarks on yet another historic campaign, it’s clear that Djokovic won’t hesitate to use his powerful platform to highlight what he sees as glaring issues and inequities in the sport he has dominated for so long. The question is, will tennis’s governing bodies finally heed the calls for greater transparency and consistency in the anti-doping program? Or will the biggest stars continue to operate under a different set of rules?
One thing is for certain – with Djokovic on the case, the pressure for reform will only intensify. And if he can capture that elusive 25th Slam along the way, his voice will be all but impossible to ignore.
