Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has expressed concerns regarding 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 a tribunal determined that the positive tests for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, were due to contamination during a massage by his fitness coach. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found Sinner not at fault for the results in March 2024.
Last year, the ITIA defended its handling of Sinner’s case and denied any favoritism. Sinner later reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which challenged the decision not to ban him.
Ranked world No. 2, Sinner served his suspension from February to May, allowing him to participate in the French Open starting in late May. Djokovic, who lost to Sinner in the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, shared his views on the situation during a discussion with Piers Morgan.
Djokovic expressed his shock at the case, stating his belief that Sinner did not intentionally violate rules. However, he criticized the handling of the case, citing lack of transparency, inconsistency, and the convenient timing of the ban between major tournaments.
Djokovic, who faced criticism for his stance on Covid-19 vaccines, clarified that he advocated for freedom of choice. In other news, Sky has discounted its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering over 1,400 live matches, including at least 215 Premier League games.