Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Jannik Sinner’s doping case and subsequent suspension in early 2025. The Italian player accepted a three-month ban after testing positive twice in 2024.
Initially, Sinner escaped punishment when it was determined that the presence of clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in his system was due to contamination during a massage by his coach. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found him not at fault for the positive tests revealed in March 2024.
Last year, the ITIA defended its handling of Sinner’s case and dismissed claims of preferential treatment. In February, Sinner reached a resolution with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had contested the original decision not to suspend him.
Ranked No. 2 globally, Sinner served his suspension from February to May this year, strategically allowing him to participate in the French Open that started in late May.
Djokovic, who lost to Sinner in the semi-finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon in July, shared his views on the situation in a comprehensive discussion with Piers Morgan covering various topics.
“It will fade with time, but it won’t vanish completely,” Djokovic remarked. “There will always be a faction that seeks to bring it up.”
“I’ve known Jannik since he was around 13 or 14 years old. I practiced with him numerous times when he was a junior. He seemed very genuine, nice, and reserved,” Djokovic added.
“He had his own world and wasn’t swayed by societal pressures. He was focused on becoming the best player he could be. When this incident occurred, I was genuinely surprised. I believe he didn’t do it intentionally. However, the handling of the case raised many concerns.”
Djokovic himself faced criticism for his stance during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was deported from Australia in 2022 for the Australian Open due to being unvaccinated against Covid-19.
“I want to clarify that I never took a specific stance on being pro or anti-vax – I always supported freedom of choice. Unfortunately, this was misunderstood,” Djokovic clarified.
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