Renowned tennis icon Novak Djokovic has addressed the concerns surrounding Jannik Sinner’s doping case and subsequent suspension in early 2025. The Italian player accepted a three-month ban after testing positive twice in 2024.
Initially, Sinner escaped sanctions as a tribunal concluded that the positive tests for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, were due to contamination during a massage by his fitness coach. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found no fault on Sinner’s part for the results in March 2024.
Last year, the ITIA defended its handling of Sinner’s case and refuted claims of preferential treatment. In February, Sinner reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which contested the initial decision not to suspend him.
Ranked No. 2 globally, Sinner served his suspension from February to May this year, strategically allowing him to participate in the French Open starting in late May.
Djokovic, who lost to Sinner in the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, shared his views on the situation during a conversation with Piers Morgan covering various topics.
Expressing his thoughts, Djokovic mentioned his acquaintance with Sinner from a young age and praised the Italian’s dedication to tennis. He expressed shock over the incident, believing Sinner did not intend to cheat but criticized the handling of the case for its lack of transparency and timing.
Djokovic, known for his stance on personal choice during the pandemic, clarified his position on vaccination, emphasizing his support for freedom of choice.
In other news, Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering savings on memberships and over 1,400 live matches, including Premier League and EFL games. Sky will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches next season, an increase from the previous season.