World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has called for a change in anti-doping rules in tennis following Jannik Sinner’s recent case. Sinner recently failed two anti-doping tests but was ruled by an independent tribunal to bear no fault or negligence due to contamination by his physio. This ruling has led to questions from players, including Djokovic, about whether doping cases are treated equally across the board. Djokovic highlighted a lack of standardised protocols and hopes that governing bodies will learn from Sinner’s case and make improvements for the future.
Several players, including Denis Shapovalov and Lucas Pouille, have raised concerns that top players may be subject to different rules compared to lower-ranked players. British player Tara Moore also faced a lengthy suspension before being ruled not at fault for a positive test in 2022. Djokovic expressed the need for collective investigation into these discrepancies and raised questions about the influence of funds and legal representation on outcomes.
Other players, like Carlos Alcaraz, responded cautiously to Sinner’s case, highlighting the complexity of the situation and the unknown factors behind the scenes. Alcaraz emphasized that Sinner was declared innocent and allowed to continue playing, leading him to believe there is not much more to discuss on the matter. Overall, the issue of anti-doping rules and the treatment of cases in tennis remains a sensitive and important topic for players and governing bodies to address collectively.
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