“Biggest Ever Scandal”- Jannik Sinner Backlash Reignites as Fans Rage Over Aussie Star’s 18-Month Doping Ban
The phrase “Biggest Ever Scandal” emerged from fan outrage on X following the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) announcement on April 29, 2025, that Australian player Max Purcell accepted an 18-month doping ban for exceeding IV vitamin infusion limits. This penalty reignited backlash against Jannik Sinner’s comparatively lenient three-month ban for testing positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, in March 2024. Fans and commentators, including tennis journalist Pavvy G, contrasted Purcell’s suspension with Sinner’s, accusing tennis authorities of favoritism toward the world No. 1. Pavvy G posted on X, “18 month ban for a grand slam champion, where it was confirmed he didn’t intentionally dope but merely had too much vitamins whilst poorly on a IV drip. Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek got tailor made small bans so they wouldn’t miss any slams, it’s biggest ever scandal in Tennis.”
Sinner’s case, settled with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in February 2025, involved accidental contamination from a physiotherapist’s use of a clostebol-containing spray. The ITIA and WADA accepted that Sinner bore no fault, and the three-month ban (February 9 to May 4, 2025) ensured he missed no Grand Slams, allowing his return at the Italian Open. Critics, including Nick Kyrgios, called the resolution “too convenient,” arguing it protected Sinner’s career, especially after his 2025 Australian Open title defense. Kyrgios posted on X, “Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.”
Purcell’s harsher penalty, despite his cooperation and a 25% sentence reduction, fueled perceptions of a double standard. Fans on X vented, with one stating, “This is insane! For vitamins, he got from an IV at the hospital? But someone only gets 3 months lmao A joke!” Sinner himself admitted unease at the 2025 Australian Open, telling *La Gazzetta dello Sport* he felt judged by peers and fans, saying, “I did not like how people looked at me in Melbourne.” The backlash highlights ongoing distrust in tennis’s anti-doping system, with players like Denis Shapovalov and Stan Wawrinka questioning its fairness. As Sinner prepares for his Rome comeback, the controversy continues to overshadow his achievements, with fans divided over whether his ban was just or privileged.
