Novak Djokovic calls out ‘favouritism’ proven in Jannik Sinner doping ban

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic has lastly damaged his silence on the latest controversy surrounding World No.1 Jannik Sinner’s doping ban, calling it an instance of “favouritism.” The 24-time Grand Slam champion expressed disappointment over the lenient three-month suspension given to Sinner, criticising the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) for what he believes is preferential remedy.

The case surrounding Sinner has sparked intense debate throughout the tennis world. On February 15, WADA and Sinner reached a settlement, concluding the long-pending doping investigation in opposition to the Italian star. After testing constructive for a banned substance, Sinner accepted a three-month suspension—an consequence that permits him to compete within the remaining Grand Slam tournaments this 12 months. The choice, nonetheless, has been met with widespread criticism, with many, together with Djokovic, arguing that the ruling was far too lenient.

Talking on the Qatar Open, Djokovic didn’t maintain again his ideas, suggesting that Sinner’s world No.1 standing performed a key position in his diminished sentence. The 36-year-old expressed concern that the ruling units a harmful precedent, indicating that top-ranked gamers might obtain lighter penalties in comparison with others going through comparable allegations.

“It virtually looks like you’ll be able to affect the end result in case you are a prime participant and have entry to the perfect attorneys. Sinner and Swiatek are harmless, it has been confirmed. Jannik may have a three-month suspension resulting from some errors and negligence of some members of his workforce, who’re engaged on the tour. That is additionally one thing that I personally and lots of different gamers discover unusual,” Djokovic stated.

“I’ve spoken to a number of gamers within the locker room, not solely in the previous couple of days but in addition within the months earlier than. Most of them usually are not glad with how the entire course of has gone and don’t assume it was truthful. Many imagine that there was favoritism,” he added.

Debate Over WADA’s Resolution

Djokovic shouldn’t be the one high-profile participant to query the decision. Daniil Medvedev, one other top-ranked participant, lately commented that he hopes Sinner’s case units a precedent for future doping investigations, permitting different gamers to barter lesser sentences. This has led to rising considerations that WADA’s ruling may weaken the strict anti-doping measures which have lengthy ruled the game.

Sinner initially examined constructive for clostebol, an anabolic agent banned underneath WADA laws. The Italian star maintained that the substance had entered his system unintentionally, reportedly by way of massages from a member of his help workforce. After an unbiased tribunal initially cleared Sinner of wrongdoing in August 2024, WADA appealed the choice to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The case was set for an April 2025 listening to, however the two events reached a settlement earlier than the trial, ensuing within the three-month ban.

As Sinner serves his suspension, the talk over equity and consistency in anti-doping rulings continues to divide the tennis group.