Nick Kyrgios minces no words on Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner’s doping charges: ‘Tennis integrity right now is awful’
The tennis world was left stunned when both Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner were charged with doping violations by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) at the close of the 2024 season. This shocking revelation meant that the top-ranked players on both the ATP and WTA tours were found guilty of using banned substances during the year.
The news caused an uproar among fans and players alike, but the loudest reaction came from Australian star Nick Kyrgios. Known for his outspoken nature, Kyrgios, who is set to make his return to competitive tennis after an 18-month absence at the Brisbane International, didn’t mince words during a press conference ahead of the event.
“Two world No.1s both getting caught for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a terrible look,” Kyrgios told reporters. “The integrity of tennis right now is awful, and everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it.”
Although Kyrgios has faced criticism in the past for his behavior and candid remarks, he firmly insisted that he has never considered doping, even after dealing with long-term injuries that have kept him out of action since June 2023.
“I would never, in my entire life, consider doping in this sport,” said Kyrgios. “With the injury I went through, there are substances out there that could speed up recovery, help me get back to my best, but that’s just not who I am. I’m totally against it.”
What Happened with Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek?
It was discovered that trace amounts of the anabolic steroid Clostebol were found in Jannik Sinner’s system after routine testing following tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami in the spring of 2024. However, the case only became public later in the summer. Despite the positive test, Sinner escaped punishment from the ITIA, sparking criticism from some players who felt that his high profile influenced the outcome. Sinner’s record-breaking season included wins at the Australian Open, US Open, and ATP World Tour Finals.
Similarly, Iga Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart medication, in August 2024. She was handed a one-month suspension during the off-season, which many felt was lenient given her status as the WTA’s top player.
Both Sinner and Swiatek argued that the trace amounts of banned substances were due to contaminated medications. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found no significant fault on the part of either player after investigations.
Kyrgios expressed his disbelief at the handling of the cases. “I pay my team hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure things like this don’t happen,” he said. “So they knew what was happening. Why did it take five to six months to act?”
Kyrgios is set to return to action in Brisbane, teaming up with Novak Djokovic in doubles and facing Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard in singles competition.
