Novak Djokovic understands why some tennis players are questioning the fairness in the sport following Jannik Sinner’s situation. Despite Sinner testing positive for steroids twice in March, he was not suspended because the International Tennis Integrity Agency decided the steroid was unintentionally introduced into his system through a massage.
The decision was made public just before Sinner, who is the No. 1 seed at the U.S. Open, was about to start the tournament. Djokovic, the defending champion and No. 2 seed, said he understands the players’ frustration due to the “lack of consistency” in handling such cases.
Some players took to social media to express their concerns, suggesting that Sinner’s high ranking might have influenced the decision.
Djokovic commented that there seems to be a lack of standardized and clear protocols, which leads players to question if they are being treated equally.
He mentioned that the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he co-founded, works to ensure clear and fair protocols for players.
Djokovic noted that players in similar situations have received different outcomes, raising questions about whether financial resources for legal representation might affect the results.
