NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic has expressed understanding for the concerns raised by some tennis players over the existence of a double standard in the sport, particularly after Jannik Sinner was not suspended despite testing positive for doping twice. In a statement released on Saturday, Djokovic acknowledged a “lack of consistency” in how such cases are handled.
Sinner tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the prohibited performance-enhancing substance entered his system unintentionally during a massage from his physiotherapist. This decision was announced on Tuesday, less than a week before Sinner is set to begin the US Open as the highest-seeded player. Djokovic, who won the tournament last year, is the second-highest seeded player this year.
“I understand the frustration among players, because there is a lack of consistency,” Djokovic stated. “As far as I understand, his case was resolved almost immediately after it was made public.” Following the news of Sinner’s situation, several players took to social media to question whether Sinner’s elevated status as one of the top players in the game played a role in the treatment of his case. “We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols. I can understand the feelings of many players who question whether they are being treated equally,” Djokovic added.
Djokovic highlighted that the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organization he helped establish, is focused on creating clear and fair protocols as well as standardized approaches to handling such cases. “Many players… have faced similar or nearly identical situations, where they did not have the same outcome,” said Djokovic. “And now the question is whether this is a matter of money — whether a player can afford to pay a significant sum to a law firm that can represent their case effectively.”
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, commented on the delicate nature of Sinner’s situation. “I think there is something behind this that many people do not know about. I don’t even know it. In the end, it is something that is very difficult to talk about,” Alcaraz remarked. “Ultimately, he tested positive, but there must be a reason he was allowed to continue playing, which we are unaware of. So I can’t say much more about it. He was declared innocent, and now we have Jannik in the tournament, and there is not much more to discuss, and I am not in a position to add anything further.”