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Djokovic calls for “clear protocols” in tennis after the doping case against Sinner | Tennis News

The Serbian tennis star says he understands the frustration of some players over the “lack of uniformity” in doping rules.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic understands why some players wonder if there are double standards in his sport after Jannik Sinner was spared from playing despite two positive steroid tests. He agrees there is 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 top seed. Djokovic, who won the tournament last year to win his 24th Grand Slam men's singles title, is seeded second.

“I understand that the players are frustrated with the lack of consistency,” Djokovic said.

“As far as I understand, his case was basically settled the moment this was announced.”

“There is 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.

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.

Canadian player Denis Shapovalov was one of those who questioned the so-called double standards in the game.

The 23-year-old Italian was informed earlier this year that he was found to have taken a low dose of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol during the Indian Wells Masters in March.

A test outside of the competition eight days later was also positive.

Sinner said he was provisionally suspended for several days, although that fact was not made public at the time, and stressed he was being treated the same as any other player.

“There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment, it is all the same process,” Sinner said.

He and his team immediately appealed, arguing that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist treated a cut with a spray containing the drug and then prescribed massages and sports therapy for the player.

Djokovic said he was a co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association and was committed to clear and fair protocols and a standardized approach by players in 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 allowed him to continue playing that we don't know. So I can't say much about it. He was declared innocent and so we have Jannik in the tournament. So there is not much to say and I am [in] no way to add anything else.”

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