Novak Djokovic says the Jannik Sinner doping scandal ‘is not helping our sport at all’ and shows that tennis ‘has a system that is not working well’.
Djokovic spoke to reporters at the Shanghai Masters this week and seemed angry when talking about the controversy around Sinner, which is refusing to go away.
The 24-time major winner did not direct any of his frustrations towards Sinner himself, instead slamming ‘governing bodies’ that it’s taking so long to sort out.
Djokovic also expressed concerns over ‘inconsistencies’ when it comes to punishing guilty players.
‘I think it’s quite obvious that we have a system that is not working well,’ Djokovic said.
‘I guess that’s probably something that even the people who are not following our sport are realising.
‘There are way too many inconsistencies, way too many governing bodies involved. Just this whole case is not helping our sport at all.’
Djokovic’s comments come after it was confirmed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had officially appealed the decision to find Sinner blameless for two failed drug tests.
Sinner twice tested positive for clostebol in March – a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass – and was controversially cleared by an independent tribunal.
The tribunal learned Sinner’s physio had applied spray to a cut on his hand before giving the player a bare-handed massage, which was said to have caused ‘contamination’, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s case was closed.
But WADA has officially appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and said Sinner should be banned for ‘between one and two years’.
‘I think he has won the three appeals so far that he had, and it must be very tough for him and his team and family,’ Djokovic added about Sinner.
‘Hopefully, we can go back to tennis. It’s impressive what he has been doing, in the whole process of what’s been happening, that he’s playing such a high level, winning Grand Slams and winning most of the matches that he plays.
‘But this situation or these circumstances are not positive for our sport, so hopefully we can resolve this case as soon as possible. Whatever’s going to happen, at the end of the day, I just wish for it to be resolved as soon as possible. That’s all I have to say about that.’
World No.1 Sinner, who lost the China Open final to Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday, recently admitted he’s had ‘sleepless nights’ over the scandal.
The Italian has always insisted he is innocent and has played down suggestions that he has benefited from specialist treatment.
