DUBAI: World number five Jessica Pegula believes the handling of the recent high profile anti-doping cases of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek has shown that the “process is completely broken.”
Meanwhile, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka admits she cannot trust the tennis anti-doping system and has become “too scared” of it.
Sinner’s long doping saga came to an end on Saturday after he agreed to a three-month ban from tennis, admitting “partial responsibility” for team mistakes which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
Sinner was facing a potential ban of two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against his initial exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency , announced in August.
In a surprising move, WADA withdrew its appeal and came to an agreement with Sinner to accept a three-month ban.
In a statement, WADA said “Sinner did not intend to cheat” but that he would serve his suspension as he is responsible for the actions of his entourage.
Pegula, last year’s US Open finalist and a member of the WTA Player Council, said the inconsistencies in the way cases are being processed and judged is creating an unfair environment for all tennis players.
“I think my reaction is that, whether you think he did or you don’t, or whatever side you're on, the process just seems to be completely like not a process,” the American told reporters in Dubai on Sunday.
“It seems to just kind of be whatever decisions and factors they take into consideration, and they just kind of make up their own ruling. I don’t really understand how that’s fair for athletes, how it’s fair for players when there’s just so much inconsistency and you have
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