Novak Djokovic says there needs to be a ‘standardized’ approach to failed drugs tests in tennis to make sure the system is fair to all players.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to weigh in following Jannik Sinner’s positive drugs tests earlier this year. Sinner tested positive for muscle mass steroid clostebol twice but was able to continue playing as he could trace where the source of the drug came from which was a Trofodermin spray used by his former physio Giacomo Naldi. He was provisionally suspended for two brief periods from 4 April until 5 April and then between 17 April and 20 April. Both of those suspensions were overturned due to a successful appeal.
Under the current policy set out by The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the announcement of Sinner’s failed tests and successful appeals can’t be made public until a full tribunal has been conducted. Even though Sinner was able to prove he didn’t intentionally take a banned substance, he lost points and prize money at the event where he tested positive.
However, some have voiced frustration over the handling of Sinner’s case with some arguing he received special treatment due to his status in the sport. Other players who have failed drug tests have spent months trying to prove their innocence before being able to play again on the Tour. Another point raised is Sinner’s ability to hire top lawyers to deal with this issue which others are not able to do.
“I understand the frustration of the players is there because of a lack of consistency,” Djokovic told reporters during his pre-tournament press conference at the US Open.
“As I understood, his case was cleared the moment basically it was announced. But I think five or six months [had] passed since the news [of the positive tests] was brought to him and his team.
“So, yeah, there is a lot of issues in the system. We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols. I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players that are questioning whether they are treated the same.
“Hopefully the governing bodies of our sport will be able to learn from this case and have a better approach for the future. I think collectively there has to be a change.”
Djokovic is the co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) which campaigns for players to have a better say in the decision-making process of the sport. He believes more needs to be looked into as to why some players have different experiences in dealing with anti-doping procedures than others.
“Many players – without naming any of them – have had similar or pretty much the same cases, where they haven’t had the same outcome,” he continued.
“Now the question is whether it is a case of the funds, whether a player can afford to pay a significant amount of money for a law firm that would then more efficiently represent his or her case.
“I don’t know. Is that a case or not? That’s something really I feel like we have to collectively investigate more, to look into the system and understand how these cases don’t happen, meaning not the case itself, but how we can standardize everything so that every player, regardless of his ranking or status or profile, is able to get the same kind of treatment.”
Djokovic will be the second seed at the US Open behind Sinner. He is seeking a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at the age of 37.