Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has highlighted the growing frustration among players regarding alleged double standards within the sport, following the acquittal of Italian player Jannik Sinner on doping allegations. Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March but was later exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which concluded that the substance entered his system unintentionally through treatment from his physiotherapist. The decision to clear Sinner was announced less than a week before the start of the US Open, where he is the top-seeded player. Djokovic, who won the tournament last year to secure his record 24th Grand Slam title, is seeded second in this tournament.

Djokovic stated, “I understand the players’ frustration because there is a lack of consistency.” He also acknowledged that many players question whether they are treated equally in such cases. “We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols,” he added. Djokovic’s comments come after several players expressed their concerns on social media about whether Sinner received any “leniency” due to his status as one of the top players in the game. Canadian player Denis Shapovalov was among those questioning the alleged double standards.

Initially, Sinner had received a temporary suspension, although this was not publicly disclosed at the outset. He insisted that he was treated like any other player and stated, “There are no shortcuts, no different treatment; they are all subjected to the same process.” Djokovic, a co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association, emphasized the importance of clear and fair protocols: “Many players… have had similar cases where they have not had the same outcome. Now the question is whether it depends on resources – whether a player can afford to pay a significant amount to a lawyer who can represent their case more effectively.”

Carlos Alcaraz, the winner of the US Open in 2022, described Sinner’s situation as delicate. “I believe there is something behind this that many do not know. I do not even know myself. In the end, it is something very difficult to talk about,” said Alcaraz.

Although Sinner has been declared innocent and is competing in the tournament, the case leaves players with many unanswered questions about equal treatment and fairness in the sport.