BRISBANE, Australia — As he gears up for his return to the court, Novak Djokovic has shared his perspectives on the prominent doping cases that have emerged in tennis, expressing concerns about what he views as inconsistencies within the sport.
The renowned former world No. 1, who is on the quest for his 25th Grand Slam title at the upcoming Australian Open, voiced his discontent at a press conference on Sunday. He lamented feeling “kept in the dark” surrounding the doping case of current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Djokovic is the top seed at the Brisbane International this week, marking his first participation in the tournament since 2009. Additionally, he will pair with Australian player Nick Kyrgios in the doubles event, which is featured on Monday’s schedule.
During his statements, Djokovic amplified criticisms made by Kyrgios a day prior concerning Sinner’s ongoing doping investigation. “I’m not questioning whether (Sinner) took the banned substance intentionally or not,” he remarked. “There have been many players, both historically and currently, who are under suspension without testing positive for any prohibited substances.”
Djokovic expressed his frustrations about the lengthy processes that less-ranked players often endure, stating, “Some players have been waiting for their cases to be resolved for over a year. I’ve found it quite exasperating to see we’ve been kept in the dark for at least five months regarding Sinner’s situation.”
Earlier this year, both Sinner and former women’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek faced charges from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) related to anti-doping violations. Sinner, who tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March, escaped a ban after the ITIA determined he was not at fault, although the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed this ruling. Swiatek, on the other hand, accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine.
Djokovic further criticized the tennis authorities for their lack of transparency regarding these doping incidents. He questioned, “The ATP hasn’t really delved deeply into this matter. Why has this case been kept from the public eye? We see cases like Simona Halep’s on the WTA Tour and now Iga Swiatek’s.”
He added, “It casts a negative light on our sport. I’m simply questioning the systemic workings and why not all players are treated equally. Perhaps there are connections to rankings, or some players possess greater financial resources and more powerful legal teams to navigate these disputes.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the current situation, Djokovic is committed to his upcoming season. After undergoing knee surgery earlier this year, he made a strong comeback, reaching the final at Wimbledon but chose to skip the end-of-year ATP Finals, where Sinner concluded his remarkable season with his eighth title.
As Djokovic looks to further enhance his legacy at Melbourne Park, site of his 10 Australian Open victories, he has enlisted the help of former rival Andy Murray as his coach for the tournament. He remarked, “It’s unusual for me to share such personal insights and strategies regarding my game with someone who has been one of my principal opponents.”
“However, I feel fortunate and grateful that he has agreed to collaborate with me. In Australia, he displays a meticulous, dedicated, and professional approach,” Djokovic concluded.
