As the US Open draws closer, Paris Olympics gold medalist Novak Djokovic asks for "clear protocols" and "standardised approaches" following the Jannik Sinner doping controversy.
After Sinner went without a ban after testing twice this year for a banned substance, many in the tennis world wondered if things were right, as Djokovic revealed the concerns he had.
Djokovic, at the US Open, elaborated on similar frustrations: "I understand players are frustrated because of a lack of consistency. His case was cleared almost immediately after it was announced. But five or six months had passed since the news of the positive tests reached he and his team.".
Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a steroid known for its purpose of enhancing muscle growth, back in March. He was provisionally suspended by the Italian anti-doping agency, but he continued playing after making an appeal.
The tribunal cleared him of any fault or negligence last week following the ITIA's ruling that the substance had been inadvertently passed on by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
Naldi, who was treating an injury to his own hand with a non-prescription spray, treated Sinner afterwards, thus unknowingly infecting the player. Following the judgment, Sinner ended his professional relationship with both Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara.
However, the quick exemption of Sinner has outraged many within the game of tennis. A few high-profile players, notably Nick Kyrgios, Liam Broady, and Denis Shapovalov, have taken to social media to express their anger over the decision, suggesting that maybe Sinner was being treated preferentially because he is such a huge name.
Djokovic, 37, and one of the older statesmen in the game nowadays, discussed his belief in the need for reform in the way that tennis handles doping cases. "There are a lot of issues in the system. We see a lack of standardised and clear protocols. I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players questioning whether they are treated the same," he continued. "Hopefully, the governing bodies of our sport can learn from this case and take a better approach in the future."
A major question that has been at the heart of Djokovic's claims, and indeed many others, is whether doping cases could be treated differently dependent on the means of the player. "The question is whether it's a matter of funds", reflected Djokovic. "Can any player afford to pay a hefty amount for a law firm which is able to represent their case better? This is something which all of us need to look into to ensure that every player, irrespective of his ranking or status, gets the same deal."
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