“Has tried to cheat the process”: Nick Kyrgios says he won’t shut up about doping cases, doubles down on Jannik Sinner criticism
Nick Kyrgios has once again made headlines with his outspoken stance on doping in tennis, refusing to back down after his recent criticism of Jannik Sinner. The Australian star, known for his candid remarks, recently expressed strong disapproval of both Sinner and Iga Swiatek after they were involved in doping controversies. Kyrgios, who has returned to competitive tennis after a long injury layoff, made it clear that he would not remain silent on the issue, doubling down on his criticisms in a press conference.
Kyrgios was particularly vocal about Sinner, who tested positive for trace amounts of Clostebol earlier in the year but avoided major punishment due to the ruling that the substance likely came from contaminated medication. Despite Sinner’s high-profile year on the ATP Tour, which included Grand Slam victories and a rise to world number one, Kyrgios did not hold back his disappointment.
“Look, I’m not going to shut up about it. This is about the integrity of our sport, and Jannik has tried to cheat the process, plain and simple,” Kyrgios said during a fiery press conference. “We can’t just let these things slide because someone’s at the top of the rankings or because they’re popular. I don’t care how successful he’s been; it’s still doping.”
Kyrgios has long been a divisive figure in tennis, both for his behavior on and off the court, but his stance on doping remains firm. He reiterated that while injuries sidelined him for much of the past 18 months, he never considered taking shortcuts or using banned substances to aid his recovery. His message was clear: there’s no excuse for doping, no matter the circumstance.
“I’ve been injured. I’ve had my body fail me, but not once did I ever think about using something that’s banned to speed up the process,” Kyrgios said. “These things, even if they are ‘accidental,’ can’t be brushed under the rug. If you’re serious about tennis, you don’t go near those substances.”
Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of the sport’s handling of doping cases, often accusing the governing bodies of being lenient with high-profile players. He cited his own experience of playing clean despite dealing with injuries, further highlighting his belief that players should be held accountable, regardless of their status in the game.
“At the end of the day, it’s about integrity. If you cheat the process, you’re cheating the sport. And I’m not going to sit by and watch it happen without saying something,” he concluded.
As Kyrgios prepares for his much-anticipated return at the Brisbane International, where he will team up with Novak Djokovic in doubles, his comments have sparked further debate about doping in tennis and how such cases should be handled, particularly when they involve top-ranked players like Sinner and Swiatek.
