A few days after ITIA’s announcement of the doping scandal involving world leader Janik Sinner, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has reacted by accusing “a lack of coherence” in the anti-doping system in tennis.
Novak Djokovic commented on the case of Jannik Sinner. Photo EPA EFE
The Italian Jannik Sinner, world number 1, was exonerated of two positive tests for clostebol in March, a procedure made public on Tuesday by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). He told a tribunal that ITIA is fighting that he was contaminated during massage sessions by a co-worker who had used a spray to treat a wound on his hand.
Novak Djokovic: Lack of consistency
If many other players, including Simona Halep, were suspended immediately and waited months or even years for the case to be resolved, Sinner stayed on the touchline for a few days and could play wherever he wanted without problems. At the press conference in New York, before the US Open, Novak Djokovic spoke about the case of the Italian. “I understand the players’ frustration with the lack of consistency and consistency. I understand this was decided when it was revealed. But it’s been five months since the news reached his team. so yes there are many problems in the systemwe see a lack of clear, standardized protocols”commented Nole.
The world number 2, an Olympic gold medalist this year, added: “I understand the feelings of the players who wonder if they are all getting the same treatment. I hope the governing bodies of our sport will learn from this case and take a better approach in the future. We need to see changes, on a collective level, that’s obvious”.
Money solves everything
Novak Djokovic also brought up the fact that money can solve many of these cases: “Other players have had similar cases without the same result. The question is whether it was a matter of moneyif any player can afford a good lawyer who can defend him better. We need to understand how to standardize everything so that every player, regardless of rank or profile, can be treated the same”.
The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz also commented on Jannik Sinner’s doping case, but he was more moderate. “If they let Jannik continue to play, it’s not for nothing. They exonerated him, that’s all I know, and that’s all I can comment on. It’s a difficult time for him, that’s for sure. Obviously, what can I say, it’s hard to explain myself in English. I believe in my sport. I don’t know more about the case”.
