Bengaluru/Brisbane:
Novak Djokovic has expressed frustration at being “kept in the dark” over world number one Jannik Sinner’s doping case, saying in Brisbane on Sunday it was not a good look for tennis.
Anti-doping authorities said last August that Sinner tested positive twice last March for taking the male steroid drug Clostbol, and was acquitted of any wrongdoing by an independent court that accepted his explanation of unintentional contamination.
The 23-year-old Italian player faces a ban of up to two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed this decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“It’s not a good image and it’s not a good look for our sport,” Djokovic told reporters ahead of the Brisbane International. “You don’t want to see that. I think for the last 20 years that I’ve been playing on the pro tour, we’ve been one of the cleanest sports. I’ll always believe in that clean sport.
“I’m just wondering how the system really works, and why some players aren’t treated like other players.”
Sinner’s case was not the only notable case in the sport, as world number two Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension that ended on December 4 after a positive result in a test for trimetazidine, which she said was due to contamination of the sleeping medication she was taking.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirms that all doping cases are dealt with based on facts and evidence and not on the name, classification or nationality of the player, but it has been unable to ward off allegations of double standards.
“The problem is a lack of consistency and transparency,” Djokovic added. “We knew nothing about the Jannik case.” “I don’t question whether he took the banned substance intentionally or not. I believe in clean sport, and I believe a player will do everything he can to play fair.
“I’ve known Yannick since he was very young. He doesn’t strike me as someone who would do something like that. But I was really frustrated like most of the other players when they saw that we were like that.” “He was kept in the dark for five months.”
Outspoken Australian Nick Kyrgios said the cases involving Sinner and Swiatek were “disgusting” for the sport and criticized the authorities for what he saw as lenient treatment.
“Years to come”
Djokovic said he intends to keep playing “for the coming years” – with more tournaments on his schedule in 2025 – as he looks to take on the new guard led by Sinner and Carlos Alzaraz.
The 37-year-old had a disappointing season last year by his standards, failing to win any Grand Slam title and only taking home one title, the Olympic gold medal in Paris.
He has fallen to seventh in the world and said he wants to bring his ranking back to “where it should be.”
“I’m looking forward to a good start to the season, and I’m looking forward to more consistency across all tournaments,” he said as he prepares to play in the Brisbane International this week.
“I’m looking forward to playing more tournaments this year than I did last season, so I hope my level will rise as well.
“Hopefully I can win a few more tournaments and get my ranking up to where it should be.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion starts the season for the first time without any of the so-called “Big Four” on the other side of the net after Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray retired this year.
Roger Federer announced his retirement in 2022.
As they faded, Sinner and Alcaraz rose to become the new Grand Slam kings.
Djokovic, who is seeking to win the Australian Open title for the 11th time next month and a record 25th Grand Slam title, said he is not thinking about retiring despite turning 38 in May.
“The way I feel today, I still believe I can be strong for years to come,” he said.
“But how long I will feel motivated to keep going is unpredictable.
“I still love the sport and I still love competing.”
The Serbian, ranked first, begins his campaign against Australian Rinki Hijikata, in what will be his first official tournament since his loss to Sinner in the final of the 2024 Shanghai Masters in October. Djokovic will also play doubles alongside Nick Kyrgios, who is making a competitive comeback after playing just one singles match on the ATP Tour in two years following knee, foot and wrist injuries.