Djokovic calls for equal treatment for all players

Following the uproar surrounding the positive doping tests of Italian world number one Jannik Sinner, record Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has spoken out in favour of equal treatment for all tennis professionals and a unified approach. “We need to understand how we can unify everything so that every player, regardless of their ranking or profile, can receive the same treatment,” the Serb said Saturday at a press conference ahead of the US Open in New York.

Several tennis players, including Canadian Denis Shapovalov, have since denounced the two-tier system. Djokovic has now explained that there are “many problems with the system, and we see a lack of clear and uniform protocols.” He understands “the frustration of players with the lack of consistency.” The Olympic champion continued: “I understand the feelings of players who wonder if they are all being treated the same. I hope that the governing bodies of our sport will learn from this situation to do better in the future. We need to see changes.” Collectively, that is clear.

Other players could have had similar cases without the same outcome. “The question is whether it’s about money, whether every player can afford a good lawyer who can defend him better,” Djokovic said, calling on the PTPA, which he helped found in 2019, to make changes.

Sinner, a favourite to win the New York title at the year’s final Grand Slam, tested positive twice for the banned stimulant clostebol in March but managed to avoid a lengthy ban. The extraordinary expert was able to explain in a convincing way that he had been innocently infected by a physiotherapist.

In Italy in particular, several bans have already been imposed after evidence of Clostebol emerged, whether in football, basketball or tennis. The substance was also used in the case of Norwegian ski star Therese Johaug. She said she used the cream to treat sunburn while training in Italy. Johaug was subsequently banned, while Sinner is not yet banned.