The world of professional tennis is reeling after the shocking revelation that two of its biggest stars, world No. 1 players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, are facing doping allegations. The news has sent shockwaves through the sport, with fellow pro Nick Kyrgios slamming their conduct as “disgusting for our sport” and “a horrible look.”
Sinner and Swiatek Implicated in Doping Breaches
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has leveled charges against Sinner and Swiatek for breaches of the sport’s anti-doping program. Sinner tested positive twice in March for an anabolic steroid, but managed to avoid a ban after the ITIA determined he was not at fault. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
The allegations have cast a dark cloud over the sport, with many questioning how two of its most prominent stars could be embroiled in such a scandal. Sinner, just 22 years old, has been hailed as a future superstar and potential heir to the “Big Three” of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Swiatek, 22, has already won three Grand Slam singles titles and spent 71 weeks atop the WTA rankings.
Kyrgios: “Disgusting for Our Sport”
Outspoken Aussie star Nick Kyrgios did not mince words when asked about the Sinner and Swiatek situations, blasting their actions as “disgusting for our sport” and “a horrible look.” The 29-year-old, who has not played since June 2023 due to injuries, emphasized that he would never consider doping, even to recover faster.
“Someone like me … I would never even in my entire life ever try and dope in this sport,” Kyrgios said. “Especially going through an injury like I went through, obviously there are things out there that could speed up healing, help me get back to prime level, help my recovery. There’s so many things out there that are prohibited in our sport that I could have been doing to get me back quicker … (but) that’s just not who I am. I’m always against that.”
– Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios also criticized those downplaying the severity of the offenses, arguing “someone like that that has tried to cheat the process, and actually not done it completely on their own merit, is the disrespectful one in my opinion.” He vowed to continue being outspoken on the issue, lamenting that not enough people within the sport are willing to address it directly.
Questions Linger Over Sinner’s Contamination Defense
While Sinner avoided a ban by successfully arguing that his physiotherapist accidentally contaminated him with the steroid clostebol, Kyrgios expressed skepticism about the situation. He questioned why Sinner waited five to six months to address it and kept the same physiotherapist on his team even after the positive tests.
“I (pay) my team hundreds and thousands of dollars to be the professionals they are, to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Kyrgios said. “So they knew it happened. Why did they wait five to six months to do anything about it? He kept his team for five months … that doesn’t make sense.”
– Nick Kyrgios
The Australian argued that if his own physiotherapist had contaminated him, he would be “livid” and likely cut ties with them immediately. Sinner’s actions, in Kyrgios’ view, strain credulity.
A Blow to Tennis Integrity
The doping charges against Sinner and Swiatek represent a significant hit to the integrity and reputation of tennis. With two young superstars implicated, it raises uncomfortable questions about the prevalence of doping within the sport and the effectiveness of existing anti-doping measures.
As Kyrgios noted, many are hesitant to openly discuss the issue, preferring to “sweep it under the rug.” However, the Aussie firebrand made clear he will continue to be a vocal critic, arguing that doping is far more egregious than on-court outbursts or racquet smashes.
“I can get emotional, I can throw a racquet, but that’s nothing compared to cheating and taking performance-enhancing drugs. That’s ridiculous in my opinion,” Kyrgios said. “I’m not going to shut up about it anyway.”
– Nick Kyrgios
As the tennis world grapples with the fallout from the Sinner and Swiatek allegations, it remains to be seen how the sport will respond and work to rebuild trust with fans. What is clear is that the scandal has rocked tennis to its core, and cast a shadow over two of its brightest young stars. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the long-term impact and charting a path forward for greater accountability and transparency in tennis’ anti-doping efforts.
