Novak Djokovic calls for change in Tennis following Jannik Sinner’s steroid scandal
Novak Djokovic has expressed his hope that the recent steroid scandal involving world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will lead to a significant overhaul in how tennis addresses anti-doping issues.
Sinner, who twice tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol earlier this year, has denied allegations of receiving special treatment and maintains that his conscience is clear.
Djokovic, addressing the situation, acknowledged the widespread concerns within the tennis community. “There are a lot of issues in the system,” Djokovic said. “I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players who are questioning whether they are treated the same.”
The Serbian star emphasised the need for the sport’s governing bodies to learn from this case and adopt a more equitable approach in the future. “Collectively, there has to be a change,” Djokovic asserted. “It’s obvious that every player, regardless of their ranking or status, should receive the same treatment.”
Sinner’s positive tests have sparked outrage among fellow players, many of whom believe that top-ranked athletes may receive preferential treatment in doping cases. Despite the controversy, Sinner has defended his integrity, stating, “I believe I’m a fair player on and off the court… in my mind, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong.”
The Italian tennis star also denied benefiting from any special treatment, insisting that “every player who tests positive has to go through the same process. There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment.”
In response to the fallout, Sinner has parted ways with the fitness coach and physiotherapist linked to the incident, just days before the start of the US Open. As the scandal continues to unfold, the tennis world will be watching closely to see how the sport’s leadership responds to the calls for reform sparked by this high-profile case.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, who is also preparing for the US Open, reassured fans that he will be at 100 percent for his first-round match, despite suffering an ankle injury during practice.
