World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is nearing the end of a three-month doping suspension—but controversy around the case is heating up once again, thanks to Serena Williams.
Sinner tested positive twice last year for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid. While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) concluded he did not intentionally cheat, the Italian was handed a three-month suspension, set to end on May 4, after it was determined the substance entered his system due to the “negligence” of a member of his support team during a massage.
The relatively short ban sparked debate—and now Williams has added fuel to the fire.
Serena Speaks Out
In a recent interview with Time Magazine, the 23-time Grand Slam champion questioned the fairness of Sinner’s punishment and suggested she would have faced much harsher consequences.
“Fantastic personality. I love the guy, I love this game. He’s great for the sport,” Williams said of Sinner.
“But if I did that, I would’ve gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would’ve had Grand Slams taken away from me.”
Williams also referenced Maria Sharapova, who received a two-year ban (later reduced) in 2016 for a doping violation. Sharapova’s defense was that the failed test was due to an administrative error.
“Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time,” Williams added. “I can’t help but feel for her.”
Timing Raises Eyebrows
Sinner’s suspension was timed so he avoided missing any Grand Slam tournaments. He’ll return just in time for the Rome Masters, his home ATP 1000 event, sparking speculation that the punishment was intentionally softened.
But the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) denies any special treatment.
In an exclusive interview with Tennis365, ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse clarified that all doping cases are handled with the same set of rules and guidelines.
“It’s the same rules and the same processes for every player. All cases are different and each turns on individual facts,” she said.
“If you test positive, the default punishment is four years. Prove it wasn’t intentional, it drops to two. If you show no fault, there’s no ban. For ‘no significant fault or negligence’, the sanction can range from a warning to two years.”
She emphasized that comparisons between cases based only on headlines are misleading because the details matter most.
What’s Next for Sinner?
Despite the criticism, Sinner is training hard for his return. He’s currently preparing in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, hitting with fellow rising star Jack Draper, who recently claimed the Indian Wells title in Sinner’s absence.
The Italian is expected to receive a hero’s welcome when he returns in Rome, but questions about his doping case will likely follow him throughout the season—and perhaps beyond
