Novak Djokovic supports Nick Kyrgios’ comments on Jannik Sinner doping case: ‘He has spoken very well’
Novak Djokovic has backed Nick Kyrgios over his controversial comments about Jannik Sinner’s doping case by expressing his view that the Australian has “spoken very well.”
The Serbian clarified, though, that he does not question whether Sinner took the prohibited substance intentionally as he does not feel the world No 1 is “the type of person who would do something like that.”
It was revealed in August by The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that Sinner had avoided a ban for failing two drug tests in March after an independent tribunal ruled he carried “no fault or negligence.”
The 23-year-old Italian tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.
The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.
In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the verdict, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on Sinner.
Kyrgios has been the most frequent and outspoken critic of the lack of punishment for Sinner, and the Aussie continued his attack with some scathing comments after arriving in Brisbane for his comeback event.
“Okay, he (Sinner) is No 1 in the world, he is an amazing tennis player. I never said he’s not. I just think the treatment has to be fair for everyone,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist told the media.
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“I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world No 1s (Sinner and Iga Swiatek) both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look.
“Yeah, the tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it, it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not okay.”
Djokovic, who will partner Kyrgios in the Brisbane doubles event, agreed with the 29-year-old’s claims about the transparency and inconsistency of tennis’ anti-doping processes.
“Nick has spoken very well about the whole Jannik doping case, and he’s right about the transparency and the inconsistency of the protocols and the comparisons between the various cases,” the 37-year-old said.
“We have seen many players in the past, and also currently, who have been suspended for not even having undergone anti-doping tests and for not having communicated their whereabouts, and some lower-ranked players who have been waiting for their cases to be resolved for more than a year.
“I don’t question whether the prohibited substance was taken intentionally [by Sinner] or not. I believe in clean sport, I believe that the player will do everything possible to play fair.
“I’ve known Jannik since he was very young, so he doesn’t seem like the type of person who would do something like that.”
Kyrgios responded to a post sharing Djokovic’s quotes on X by writing: “Goat (Greatest Of All Time) has spoken.”
