US Open 2024: Djokovic comments on Sinner’s steroid case

NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic understands why some tennis players question a double standard in the sport after Jannik Sinner was not banned despite two positive tests for steroidsand said on Saturday that he agreed that there was a “lack of consistency”.

Sinner was tested for anabolic steroids twice in March, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency found that the banned performance-enhancing drug had inadvertently entered his body through a massage from his physiotherapist.

The decision was announced on Tuesday, less than a week before Sinner begins the US Open as the No. 1 seed. Djokovic, who won the tournament last year to claim his 24th Grand Slam men's singles title, is the No. 2 seed.

“I understand that players are frustrated with a lack of consistency,” Djokovic said. “From what I understand, his case was basically settled the moment this was announced.”

Some players commented on the news on social media, wondering if Sinner was lucky because he has the status of one of the best players in the sport.

“We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols. I can understand the feelings of many players who wonder if they are being treated equally,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic said he was a co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association and advocates on behalf of the players for clear and fair protocols and a standardized approach to cases.

“Many players … have had similar or pretty much the same cases where there was not the same outcome,” Djokovic said, “and now the question is whether it is a question of finances – whether a player can afford to pay a significant amount of money to a law firm that can then represent his case more efficiently.”

Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, said Sinner's case was a delicate matter.

“I think there's something behind it that a lot of people don't know. I don't even know. Ultimately, it's something that's hard to talk about,” Alcaraz said.

“In the end he tested positive, but there must be a reason that made him continue playing that we don't know. So I can't say much about that. He was declared innocent and we have Jannik in the tournament, so there's not much to say and I'm not in a position to add anything.”

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