Jannik Sinner: Novak Djokovic wants “clear protocols” in doping cases

Novak Djokovic called for “clear protocols” and “standardized approaches” for doping cases in tennis; Jannik Sinner escaped a ban after testing positive for a banned substance.

The world number one tested positive twice in March for clostebol – a steroid that can be used to build muscle.

The Italian was acquitted of any fault or negligence by a court last week after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found that Sinner had been accidentally contaminated with the substance by physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.

Naldi had applied an over-the-counter spray – which he had received from fitness coach Umberto Ferrara – to a cut on his own hand before treating Sinner.

The 23-year-old, who no longer works with the two, was automatically provisionally suspended after his positive test, but was allowed to continue playing after a successful appeal.

Some players have suggested that Sinner received special treatment, with world number two Djokovic saying ahead of the US Open: “I understand that players are frustrated with the lack of consistency.

“As far as I understand, his case was basically resolved the moment it was announced. But I think five or six months [had] passed since the message [of the positive tests] was delivered to him and his team.

“Yes, there are many problems in the system,” added the 24-time Grand Slam winner. “There is a lack of standardized and clear protocols. I can understand the feelings of many players who wonder whether they are being treated equally.”

“Hopefully the governing bodies of our sport can learn from this case and do better in the future. I think there has to be a change together.”

The decision not to punish Sinner following the positive tests was criticised on social media by a number of players, including Australian Nick Kyrgios, Briton Liam Broady and Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

Australian Open winner Sinner will be number one at the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, which begins on Monday.

“Many players – without naming any of them – had similar or pretty much the same cases where there was not the same result,” added the 37-year-old Serbian Djokovic.

“Now the question is whether it is a question of financial means, whether a player can afford to pay a significant sum of money to a law firm that can then represent his case more efficiently.”

“I don't know. Is this a case or not? I really feel like we need to look into this more closely together to examine the system and understand why such cases don't occur. By that, I don't mean the case itself, but how we can standardize everything so that every player, regardless of their rank, status or profile, receives the same treatment.”