World number five Jessica Pegula believes the handling of high-profile doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek has shown that the « process is completely broken ». And top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka admits she cannot trust the tennis anti-doping system and has become « too scared » of it. Sinner’s long doping saga came to an end on Saturday after he agreed to a three-month ban from tennis, the world number one admitting « partial responsibility » for team mistakes which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
Sinner was facing a potential ban of two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his initial exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), announced in August.
In a surprising move, WADA withdrew its appeal and came to an agreement with Sinner to accept a three-month ban.
In a statement, WADA said « Sinner did not intend to cheat » but would serve his suspension as he is responsible for the actions of his entourage.
Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) late last year.
The 23-year-old Pole had pulled out of the WTA’s Asian swing in September-October citing « personal matters ».
Pegula, last year’s US Open finalist and a member of the WTA Players’ Council, said the inconsistencies in the way cases are being processed and judged is creating an unfair environment for all tennis players.
« I think my reaction is that, whether you think he did or you don’t, or whatever side you’re on, the process just seems to be completely not a process, » the American told reporters in Dubai on Sunday.
– ‘Make up ruling’ –
« It seems to just be whatever decisions and factors they take into consideration, and they just make up their own ruling.
« I don’t really understand how that’s fair for players when there’s just so much inconsistency and you have no idea. »
Pegula added that any emails the players have been receiving regarding anti-doping cases contain explanations that are too easy to come up with, and are just ways for anti-doping organisations to justify their inconsistent rulings and processes.
« If you’re clean or not, the process is completely broken, » she stated.
« I think it needs to be seriously looked at and considered. I feel like they have so much power to ruin someone’s career, as well. I think there needs to be something done about that because it just seems really unfair.
« I don’t think any of the players trust the process at all right now. Zero. It’s just a horrible look for the sport. »
– ‘Too scared’ Sabalenka –
Sabalenka refused to comment on the outcome of the Sinner case but says she has become too wary of falling foul to the sport’s strict anti-doping rules.
« You just start to be more careful. For example, before I wouldn’t care about leaving my glass of water and go to the bathroom in a restaurant. Now, I’m not going to drink from the same glass of water, » said the Belarusian world number one.
« You just become a bit more aware of stuff and this thing gets to your head that, like, if someone used a cream on you and you test positive, they’re going to go for you and they’re not going to believe you or anything.
« You just become too scared of the system. I don’t see how I can trust the system. »
Swiatek said she trusts that the process ultimately « went fair », when asked about her reaction to the Sinner decision.
« Every case is different. Every story is different, for sure, » said the second-ranked Swiatek.
« Because of Jannik’s or my situation, we are kind of even celebrities, besides playing tennis. Everybody thinks of it from a hundred different perspectives.
« But I just try to stick to the facts and read the documents. I trust that the process at the end went fair. That’s the only thing I do because I try not to judge. »
Sinner’s three-month sanction was described as « ridiculous » by Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios.
« Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist, » Kyrgios posted on X on Saturday.
And three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka was equally damning of the deal, writing: « I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore. »
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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