Novak Djokovic makes red ‘flags’ comment on Jannik Sinner case after ban

Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month suspension after two positive drug tests in 2024.

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has spoken out about the “red flags” surrounding Jannik Sinner’s doping case and subsequent ban in early 2025. The Italian star accepted a three-month suspension following two positive tests in 2024.

Sinner originally avoided punishment after a tribunal ruled that two failed tests for clostebol – an anabolic steroid – resulted from contamination during a bare-handed massage by his fitness coach. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined he bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive results discovered in March 2024.

Last year, the ITIA defended how it managed Sinner’s situation and rejected suggestions he received special treatment. In February, Sinner reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had challenged the original decision not to ban him.

READ MORE: Andy Murray discusses golf plans and his chances of competing at The OpenREAD MORE: Rafa Nadal’s uncle calls for huge change in tennis that could shake up the pecking order

The current world No. 2 subsequently served his three-month suspension from February through May this year. The strategic timing allowed Sinner to compete at the French Open when it began in late May.

Djokovic, who was defeated by Sinner in the semi-finals at both that championship and Wimbledon in July, has now shared his thoughts on the Italian’s situation during a wide-ranging conversation with Piers Morgan covering numerous subjects.

“Over time, it will fade, but I don’t think it will disappear,” he said. “There’s always going to be a certain group of people that will always try to bring that forward.

“I’ve known Jannik since he was probably 13, 14 years of age, and I was practising with Sinner a lot of times when he was a junior. I liked him, actually a lot, and he always came across very genuine, very nice, very quiet.

“He had his own world, and he didn’t really care too much about the lights of society, so to say.

“He just wanted to be the best player he can be. And I like that. I liked his mentality. So when this happened I was shocked, honestly. I do think that he didn’t do it on purpose. But the way the whole case was handled [has] so many red flags.

“There is the lack of transparency, the inconsistency, the convenience of the ban coming between the [grand] slams, so he doesn’t miss out the others. It was very, very odd.

“I really don’t like how the case was being handled and you could hear so many other players, both male and female, who had some similar situations, coming out in the media and complaining that it was a preferable treatment.”

Djokovic himself faced backlash over his position during the coronavirus pandemic. He was deported from Australia after arriving for the 2022 Australian Open because he hadn’t been vaccinated against Covid-19.

“The only thing I would add – not to really dig deeper into this whole situation on Covid and vaccination – is that I was never a proponent of anti-vax or pro-vax,” Djokovic said. “I was always freedom of choice. And that was misinterpreted.”