(New York) “I understand the frustration of the players, with regard to the lack of consistency” in anti-doping, said the Serbian Novak Djokovic on Saturday, after the affair involving the tennis player Jannik Sinner, cleared of two positive tests which occurred in March.
“I understand the frustration of the players, in relation to the lack of consistency. I understood that his case was decided when it was revealed [mardi]. But five months have passed since the news reached his team. So, yes, there are many problems in the system, we see a lack of clear and standardized protocols,” Djokovic commented at a press conference in New York, before playing the United States Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the season, starting Monday.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy has been cleared of two positive tests for clostebol in March, a procedure made public on Tuesday by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Several players have since denounced a two-tier system, citing Sinner’s defense accepted by anti-doping (a cream used by his physiotherapist), in a procedure that was previously kept secret, in which the Italian managed to avoid a lengthy provisional suspension.
PHOTO BY SAM GREENE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES, PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Jannik Sinner
“I understand the feelings of the players who wonder if they are all receiving the same treatment. I hope that the governing bodies of our sport will learn from this case to have a better approach in the future. We must see changes, collectively, that is obvious,” said Djokovic (37), world No. 2, 24-time Grand Slam winner and gold medalist at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.
“Other players have had similar cases without the same outcome. The question is whether it was a question of money, whether any player can afford a good lawyer who will be able to defend him better,” continued the Serbian, referring to the work of the players’ association (PTPA) which he had worked to found in 2019.
We need to understand how to standardize everything so that every player, regardless of their ranking or profile, can have the same treatment.
Novak Djokovic
Also questioned on the subject, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz searched for his words: “If they leave Jannik [Sinner] continue to play, it’s not for nothing. They cleared him, that’s all I know, and that’s all I can comment on.”
“It’s a difficult moment for him, that’s for sure. Obviously, what can I say, it’s hard to explain myself in English. I believe in my sport. I don’t know more about the case,” added Alcaraz, who with Sinner leads the new generation of champions on the men’s circuit.
Alcaraz cuts training short “as a precaution”
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz cut short his training on Saturday “as a precaution” after slightly twisting his right ankle, but “feels good” and will be “100%” at the start of the United States internationals, he assured.
“I just stopped training as a precaution. I didn’t feel confident enough to continue, in case it could have gotten worse. But a few hours later, I feel good,” the 21-year-old Spaniard told a news conference ahead of the start of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year on Monday, which he won in 2022.
“I never feared for my participation in the United States internationals,” he assured. “I was angry because I did not want to stop, out of respect for Cerundolo [Francisco, avec qui il tapait la balle] also. I am sure that tomorrow [dimanche] in training or on Monday I will be at 100%.”