Swatek And Sinner's Doping Cases Created 'Terrible F***ing Look' For Tennis
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Former WTA player and respected analyst Andrea Petkovic outlined how Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner's doping cases have harmed tennis' image.
Two players who have been No. 1 on the ATP and WTA Tours this season, testing positive for banned substances during the same year, have rocked the tennis world and caused much controversy.
Sinner tested positive for clostebol twice at March's Indian Wells Open. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)'s five-month investigation into his case was kept private until it cleared him of wrongdoing.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) took a different view. It appealed Sinner's case and wants a ban of between one and two years for the current ATP world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion.
Swiatek's case has some similarities and differences. Unlike Sinner, she was provisionally suspended on September 12th after testing positive for trimetazidine, but that was also not made public because the 23-year-old appealed within ten days.
The four-time French Open champion's appeal was successful after testing proved her explanation that a non-prescription medicine had been contaminated with trimetazidine without her knowledge.
Swiatek accepted a one-month ban for the contamination, meaning she is clear to return for the start of the 2025 season after serving most of that during her provisional suspension from September 12th to October 4th.
Some players are enraged by how Swiatek and Sinner's cases were handled. Criticisms range from defending the players but disliking how private the cases were kept to those like Nick Kyrgios, who has repeatedly slammed Sinner, in particular, since the story was first broken a few days before the US Open.
Petkovic, one of the most insightful analysts in tennis, admitted on The Rennae Stubbs Podcast that the cases were an awful look for the sport, even though she believes Swiatek's explanation based on the case details.
"It feels like we just talked about Jannik Sinner, it just feels like we've gone through it. And the question is, really, it's not the question it's just a statement from my side, it's a terrible look for tennis. I personally believe Iga's story, I read through all the things, I read through the statements. I personally believe her... but regardless, this is a terrible look for tennis."
"Testing has gotten better. I think tennis has optimized itself so much that all these players are taking every single medication that can make them somehow better... but regardless, it's a terrible f******g look that we have two No. 1s in the world in the same year tested positive for doping."
However, Petkovic also thinks Swiatek handled the situation superbly by releasing a lengthy video that explained the situation. The German was also moved after seeing how much anxiety the case had caused Swiatek.
"I think Iga handled it the best of all the players with her video, speaking right down the barrel in her language which she feels most comfortable... I was really moved by her because you could see the stress and also the relief that it's over in her mind."
The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear Sinner's appeal sometime next year, while WADA will decide whether to appeal Swiatek's case. Recent comments from WADA's president might indicate the organization is unlikely to appeal Swiatek's short ban.
