Tennis legend Serena Williams has reignited a debate about doping penalties in professional tennis, arguing she would have faced much greater penalties than men’s world number one, Jannik Sinner, for testing positive for banned substances.
In comments to Time Magazine, the 23-time Grand Slam winner addressed the wave of doping cases that has afflicted marquee-name players — most notably Sinner, who in February received a three-month ban after testing positive twice for clostebol, a prohibited anabolic agent. The ban, imposed after an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), means the controversial Italian will be free to race again on May 4.
In mentioning Sinner’s merits as a player, Williams noted a double standard in the way cases involving doping are managed.
“Men’s tennis needs him,” she said. “But if I did that I would’ve gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. “I would have lost Grand Slams.”
The American legend — who retired in 2022 — stressed how rigorous she was during her career to avoid consuming banned substances. Her comments come at a time when the fairness of anti-doping rulings is being openly discussed, especially considering that both Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep had their bans reduced, despite the violations in question.
