Just before making his return to competitive tennis, Novak Djokovic has voiced his concerns over the lack of transparency in recent high-profile doping cases.
Djokovic, who is preparing for the Australian Open in pursuit of his 25th Grand Slam title, has expressed dissatisfaction with how information regarding doping cases is managed. His comments, made during a press conference in Brisbane, highlight his frustration over the handling of top-ranked player Jannik Sinner’s doping case.
The Serbian tennis star stressed that players, including himself, have been ‘kept in the dark’ about significant details related to doping cases. Djokovic questioned the process by which cases are handled, pointing out the inconsistency in the public’s access to information. He remarked, “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 waiting for their case to be resolved for over a year.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accused both Sinner and former women’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek of anti-doping breaches earlier this year. Sinner faced two positive tests for an anabolic steroid in March but was not banned, as the ITIA concluded he was not at fault. Meanwhile, Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension following a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine. Djokovic noted the lack of depth in ATP’s communication about these cases, comparing it with Simona Halep’s case and questioning why such matters remain undisclosed to the public.
Furthermore, Djokovic suggested potential biases in how cases are handled, hinting at possible disparities due to player rankings or financial resources. He noted, “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.”
Despite these concerns, Djokovic remains optimistic about his upcoming season. After knee surgery and missing the ATP Finals, he is eager to continue his career and success at the Australian Open, where he has won ten times. In an interesting turn, Djokovic has enlisted former rival Andy Murray as his coach, expressing contentment with their collaboration, despite the unpredictability it brings. “It’s strange for me to share all these kinds of insights about how I feel on the court…with somebody who has been one of my top rivals,” he shared.
With the tennis world closely watching, Djokovic’s remarks have spotlighted the need for greater transparency in doping cases, echoing a call for fairness and uniformity in handling such issues.
Source: Local10
