Novak Djokovic laments ‘favouritism’ in the direction of Jannik Sinner over doping ban | Tennis

Novak Djokovic has claimed nearly all of gamers imagine Jannik Sinner was proven “favouritism” together with his three-month doping ban.

Sinner reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Company (Wada) over two optimistic drug exams in March final yr. Sinner’s rationalization that he was inadvertently contaminated with the banned substance clostebol by his physio was accepted by Wada, however the company added that “the athlete bears accountability for the entourage’s negligence”.

The world No 1 is subsequently suspended from 9 February till 4 Might, that means he shall be eligible to play on the French Open, which begins on 19 Might. Talking on the Qatar Open, Djokovic mentioned: “There’s a majority of the gamers that I’ve talked to within the locker room, not simply in the previous few days, but in addition previous few months, that aren’t proud of the way in which this complete course of has been dealt with.

“A majority of the gamers don’t really feel it’s honest. A majority of the gamers really feel like there may be favouritism taking place. It seems that you may virtually have an effect on the end result if you’re a prime participant, if in case you have entry to the highest legal professionals.”

Sinner’s was the primary of two high-profile instances in tennis in fast succession, with the ladies’s world No 2, Iga Swiatek, handed a one-month suspension in November after a optimistic check for the angina treatment trimetazidine. The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) accepted it was attributable to contamination of a drugs Swiatek was taking to assist fight jet lag.

In contrast, the previous world No 1 Simona Halep was given a four-year ban by the ITIA in 2022 after a optimistic check, though it was later lowered to 9 months. In the meantime, Britain’s Tara Moore, a far much less well-known participant, was suspended in Might 2022 whereas an investigation lasted 18 months earlier than an impartial tribunal decided that contaminated meat was the supply of the prohibited substances for which she examined optimistic.

“Simona Halep and Tara Moore and another gamers which are possibly much less recognized which were struggling to resolve their instances for years, or have gotten the ban for years … there may be a lot inconsistencies between the instances,” mentioned Djokovic. “Sinner has obtained a suspension for 3 months due to errors and negligence of his crew members, who’re engaged on the tour. That is additionally one thing that I personally and lots of different gamers discover unusual.

“Now it’s a ripe time for us to actually tackle the system, as a result of the system and the construction clearly doesn’t work, anti-doping, it’s apparent. I hope that within the close to future the governing our bodies are going to come back collectively and attempt to discover a simpler method to take care of these processes. It’s inconsistent, and it seems to be very unfair.”

Moore, 32, wrote on X on Monday: “I don’t suppose any of this was Sinner’s fault. I’m merely asking that everybody get the identical remedy. I hope his case will additional enhance the circumstances by which gamers are handled and shall be a precedent for future instances’ timelines.”

Britain’s Liam Broady advised the timing of Sinner’s ban was handy for the 23-year-old. “I do suppose so much has been put into when the ban would happen, to influence Jannik’s profession as little as potential,” Broady instructed BBC Sport.

“The ban ends the day earlier than the Rome Masters, which is the largest event in his house nation and the right preparation for him to then go and play the French Open. I don’t suppose he loses any factors or his No 1 spot both, so it’s an fascinating ban.”

The British No 1 Jack Draper instructed Sky Sports activities: “I’m positive he wouldn’t have performed something intentional however we’ve to be accountable for what goes in our our bodies. Clearly he’s obtained a ban for a number of months and I don’t suppose that’s good for tennis.”