Former American tennis star Serena Williams made a startling claim surrounding the doping ban imposed on current ATP world number one Jannik Sinner.
The American ace claimed that she would have been banned for 20 years and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like Sinner did last year.
“I love the guy, love this game,” Serena Williams, who retired in 2022 after winning 23 Grand Slam trophies, told Time Magazine
“He’s great for the sport. I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him.
“(But) if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.”
Sinner was handed a three-month ban in February by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which challenged an independent tribunal’s decision to clear him of wrongdoing after two positive tests for the anabolic agent clostebol.
Reigning Australian Open and U.S. Open champion Sinner, who faces ban till May 4. However, many has raised eyebrows about whether he had received preferential treatment from the authorities.
Tim Henman, former tennis player, had also criticized Sinner’s punishment for being “too convenient,” given that it coincides perfectly with the start of the French Open and his victory at the Australian Open.
Also Read: Is Jannik Sinner’s Controversial 3 Month Suspension Too Convenient?
Iga Swiatek’s case also raised eyebrows with the women’s world number two accepting a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
Former world number one Simona Halep was also banned despite denying knowingly taking the banned drug roxadustat and her four-year suspension was cut to nine months in 2024 after an appeal at sport’s highest court.
Williams also said during her playing days she took extra care with what she put into her body during her career in case she ingested something that got her in trouble.
