Novak Djokovic has referred to as for “clear protocols” and “standardised approaches” to tennis doping instances with Jannik Sinner having escaped a ban after testing constructive for a banned substance.
The world primary twice examined constructive for clostebol – a steroid that can be utilized to construct muscle mass – in March.
The Italian was cleared of fault or negligence by a tribunal final week, with the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) discovering Sinner had been inadvertently contaminated with the substance by physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
Naldi had been making use of an over-the-counter spray – given to him by health coach Umberto Ferrara – to a reduce on his personal hand earlier than then finishing up remedies on Sinner.
The 23-year-old, who’s not working with the pair, was given an computerized provisional suspension when he examined constructive however was capable of maintain enjoying after efficiently interesting in opposition to it.
Some gamers have instructed Sinner acquired particular therapy and, talking earlier than the US Open, world quantity two Djokovic mentioned: “I perceive the frustration of the gamers is there due to a scarcity of consistency.
“As I understood, his case was cleared the second mainly it was introduced. However I believe 5 – 6 months [had] handed because the information [of the positive tests] was delivered to him and his staff.
“So, yeah, there’s a number of points within the system,” added the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “We see a scarcity of standardised and clear protocols. I can perceive the feelings of a number of gamers which can be questioning whether or not they’re handled the identical.
“Hopefully the governing our bodies of our sport will have the ability to study from this case and have a greater strategy for the long run. I believe collectively there must be a change.”
The choice to not sanction Sinner following the constructive checks has been criticised on social media by a variety of gamers together with Australian Nick Kyrgios, Britain’s Liam Broady and Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
Australian Open champion Sinner would be the prime seed on the US Open, the ultimate Grand Slam of the 12 months, which begins on Monday.
“Many gamers – with out naming any of them – have had comparable or just about the identical instances, the place they have not had the identical final result,” added Serbia’s Djokovic, 37.
“Now the query is whether or not it’s a case of the funds, whether or not a participant can afford to pay a big amount of cash for a legislation agency that may then extra effectively symbolize his or her case.
“I do not know. Is {that a} case or not? That is one thing actually I really feel like we’ve got to collectively examine extra, to look into the system and perceive how these instances do not occur, which means not the case itself, however how we will standardise every little thing so that each participant, no matter his rating or standing or profile, is ready to get the identical type of therapy.”
