Djokovic frustrated players in the dark over doping cases
Training Session (photo Patrick Getty Serbia's By International Brisbane Before In Hamilton/afp A Brisbane Via Attends Djokovic Novak The Tournament Tennis Images)
Novak Djokovic expressed his frustration at being "kept in the dark" about world number one Jannik Sinner's doping case, saying in Brisbane on Sunday that it was not a good look for tennis.
Anti-doping authorities said in August Sinner twice tested positive in March for the anabolic androgenic steroid clostebol and was cleared of wrongdoing by an independent tribunal that accepted his explanation of unintentional contamination.
The 23-year-old Italian faces a potential ban of up to two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed that decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"It's not a good image and not a good look for our sport," Djokovic told reporters ahead of the Brisbane International.
"You don't want to see that. I believe that in the last 20-plus years that I've been playing on the professional tour that we've been one of the cleanest sports. I'll keep believing in that clean sport.
"I'm just questioning the way the system works, really, and why certain players are not treated the same as other players."
Sinner's was not the only recent high-profile case in the sport as world number two Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban that ended on Dec. 4 after a positive test for trimetazidine, which she said was due to contamination of her sleep medication.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency maintains that all doping cases are dealt with based on facts and evidence and not a player's name, ranking or nationality, but has not been able to fend off allegations of double standards.
"The issue is the inconsistency and the transparency. We've been kept in the dark with Jannik's case," Djokovic added.
"I'm not questioning whether he took the banned substance intentionally or not. I believe in a clean sport, I believe that the player will do everything possible to be playing fair.
"I've known Jannik since he was very young. He doesn't strike me as somebody who would do such a thing. But I've been really frustrated as (have) most of the other players to see that we've been kept in the dark for five months."
Meanwhile, Djokovic said his recently retired rival Andy Murray was bringing a unique perspective as his new coach and he was eager to put into practice what the duo have discussed.
Djokovic added fellow former world number one Murray to his team last month and will work with the Scot until the end of the Australian Open next month before deciding on their future.
"He has a unique perspective on my game as one of the greatest rivals I've had. He knows the pros and cons of my game," said Djokovic, who spent 10 days recently with Murray preparing for the 2025 campaign.
Djokovic will be without Murray in Brisbane but the 37-year-old Serb is keen to get the most out of his new coach when they reunite ahead of the Jan. 12-26 Australian Open.
"He played until recently on the tour, so he knows all the other best players currently in the world, the youngsters and the weaknesses and strengths in their game. I look forward to it, I really do," Djokovic said.
Reuters