Novak Djokovic has known 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 minimize on his personal hand earlier than then finishing up therapies 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 preserve enjoying after efficiently interesting in opposition to it.
Some gamers have prompt Sinner acquired particular remedy and, talking earlier than the US Open, world quantity two Djokovic stated: “I perceive the frustration of the gamers is there due to a scarcity of consistency.
“As I understood, his case was cleared the second principally it was introduced. However I feel 5 – 6 months [had] handed because the information [of the positive tests] was dropped at him and his group.
“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 be capable of study from this case and have a greater strategy for the longer term. I feel collectively there must be a change.”
The choice to not sanction Sinner following the constructive exams has been criticised on social media by various gamers together with Australian Nick Kyrgios, Britain’s Liam Broady and Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
Australian Open champion Sinner would be the high seed on the US Open, the ultimate Grand Slam of the yr, which begins on Monday.
“Many gamers – with out naming any of them – have had related or just about the identical instances, the place they have not had the identical end 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 sum of money for a regulation agency that will then extra effectively signify 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 to collectively examine extra, to look into the system and perceive how these instances do not occur, that means not the case itself, however how we will standardise every part so that each participant, no matter his rating or standing or profile, is ready to get the identical sort of remedy.”
