NOVAK DJOKOVIC claimed most of the tennis locker room are “not satisfied” with Jannik Sinner’s timely three-month ban.
And he said the whole saga is “very unfair” on the rest of the tennis world.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Sinner twice tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol in March 2024 but was initially cleared of wrongdoing and avoided a ban.
That is because he was inadvertently contaminated by his physio Giacomo Naldi who treated a cut on his own hand with a spray bought over the counter which contained the substance before massaging Sinner.
However, the World Anti-Doping appealed the decision and had a date at the Court of Arbitration for Sport scheduled for April, hoping to get the world No1 banned for one to two years.
But Sinner’s lawyers negotiated a case resolution agreement with Wada under provision 10.8.2 in its code by admitting “partial responsibility” for his team’s mistakes to accept the three-month suspension.
The ban started on February 9 and ends on May 4 – crucially just in time for the Italian Open and before the French Open and Wimbledon.
Had the same punishment been enforced by CAS in April, the Australian Open and US Open reigning champion would have missed both Grand Slams.
And the whole situation and Sinner’s ability to strike a deal with Wada with a very favourable ban and ideal timing has not gone down well with many of his peers.
Now Djokovic has broken his silence on the raging debate and revealed many believe there is “favouritism” at play.
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The 24-time Grand Slam champ said: “I spoke with several players in the locker room not only in the last few days but also in the previous months.
“Most of them are not satisfied with how the whole process has gone, and they don’t think it’s fair.
“There is a lack of trust.
“Many of them believe there was favouritism.
“We have seen the cases of Simona Halep and Tara Moore, and other players perhaps less known, who have had difficulties for years to resolve their cases, or who have been suspended for a long time.
“It almost seems like you can influence the outcome if you are a top player and have access to the best lawyers. Sinner and Swiatek are innocent, it has been proven.
“And we have to keep in mind that Sinner and Swiatek, at the time, were No1 in the world.
“We will see what happens in the near future, if the whole case will attract more attention and can shed light on other cases of lower-level players.
“I think it is really time to do something and address the system because it is clear that the structure does not work like this.
“So yes, it is inconsistent and it seems very unfair to me, and that is all I have to say about it.”
The Professional Tennis Players Association – launched by Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil in 2020 – hit out with a strong statement following the weekend’s bombshell news.
The PTPA said: “The ‘system’ is not a system. It’s a club. Supposed case-by-case discretion is, in fact, merely cover for tailored deals, unfair treatment, and inconsistent rulings.
“It’s not just the different results for different players. It’s the lack of transparency. The lack of process. The lack of consistency. The lack of credibility in the alphabet soup of agencies charged with regulating our sports and athletes.
“The lack of commitment from the ATP, WTA, Grand Slams, ITIA, and Wada to reform and create a fair and transparent system going forward.
“This bias is unacceptable for all athletes and shows a deep disrespect for every sport and its fans. It’s time for change. And we will change it.”
Nick Kyrgios labelled Saturday a “sad day for tennis” and added “fairness in tennis does not exist” while plenty of others have also expressed their anger and frustration – mainly at the system rather than Sinner himself.
What have the stars said about Sinner's ban?
By Joshua Jones
JANNIK SINNER struck a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February to accept a three-month ban from tennis after two failed drugs tests last March.
Wada accepted the world No1 “did not intend to cheat” and pinned the blame on two members of Sinner’s team for the contamination – but Sinner was responsible for their actions.
The timing of the ban meant the world No1 does not miss any Grand Slams as he returns to competitive action in early May.
But the whole saga has created a storm in the tennis world with various players weighing in…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
“I spoke with several players in the locker room… most of them are not satisfied with how the whole process has gone, and they don’t think it’s fair. Many of them believe there was favouritism. It almost seems like you can influence the outcome if you are a top player and have access to the best lawyers. I think it is really time to do something and address the system because it is clear that the structure does not work like this. So yes, it is inconsistent and it seems very unfair to me, and that is all I have to say about it.”
NICK KYRGIOS
“So Wada come out and say it would be a one-to-two-year ban. Obviously Sinner’s team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a three-month ban. No titles lost. No prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.”
DANIIL MEDVEDEV
“I hope everyone will have the right to represent themselves. Some players don’t have the money for a lawyer – they do it themselves. It’s a bad sign if he’s the only one who can do that, but it’s a very good sign if – after that – everyone will be able to do it. I hope it will create a precedent where everyone will have the opportunity to defend themselves better. Otherwise, if it’s not going to be possible, it’s going to be bizarre.”
LIAM BROADY
“Didn’t realise you could reach a settlement regarding a doping ban… Interesting. Back in time for French Open I guess?”
JACK DRAPER
“I know Jannik. he’s a good friend, and I know that with this whole thing, I’m sure he wouldn’t have done anything intentional. But obviously that’s the sport and we have to be accountable for what goes in our bodies. He’s got a ban for a few months, I don’t think that’s good for tennis, I don’t think it’s good for the sport that the No 1 player in the world, and someone who’s doing incredible things is having to face a ban. But he’ll be back shortly and I wish him the best and I hope he’s going to be okay.”
STAN WAWRINKA
“I don’t believe in a clean sport any more…”
FELICIANO LOPEZ
“It’s very clear he hasn’t done anything to enhance his performance, that’s proven. He’s taking full responsibility for the mistakes of others. A longer suspension would have made the sport cleaner? I don’t think so.”
JESSICA PEGULA
“The process just seems to be completely not a process. 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. It seems to just be whatever decisions and factors they take into consideration, and they just make up their own ruling.”
TIM HENMAN
“When I read the statement this morning it just seems a little bit too convenient. Obviously having just won the Australian Open, to miss three months of the Tour and therefore to be eligible to play at Roland Garros, the timing couldn’t have been any better for Sinner, but I still think it leaves a pretty sour taste for the sport.”
Wada accept that Sinner “did not intend to cheat” and that the drug “did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit”.
It also pinned the blame of “negligence” on his team members – both Naldi and Umberto Ferrera who bought the spray were immediately fired by Sinner when the news came to light last year before the US Open.
Wada said: “However, under the code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence.
“Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome.”
Sinner had always maintained his innocence, arguing the amount of clostebol found in his system from two tests amounted to less than a billionth of a gram.
He released his own statement via his lawyers which read: “This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year.
“I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise Wada’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love.
“On that basis I have accepted Wada’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”
