Serena Williams on Double Standards in Anti-Doping Enforcement

Serena Williams, the legendary American tennis player, suggested that she would have faced a much harsher penalty, potentially a 20-year ban and forfeiture of her Grand Slam titles, had she failed drug tests under circumstances similar to those of Jannik Sinner.

Sinner accepted a three-month suspension in February following an understanding with the World Anti-Doping Agency. This came after WADA contested an independent tribunal’s judgment, which had initially cleared him following two positive tests for clostebol, an anabolic agent.

“I admire Jannik Sinner and the sport,” Williams, who retired in 2022 with 23 Grand Slam titles, remarked in an interview with Time Magazine. “He elevates men’s tennis. I’ve faced immense scrutiny, and I don’t want to denigrate anyone. However, if I were in a similar situation, the repercussions would have been far more severe, likely a 20-year ban and the revocation of Grand Slam titles, to be frank.”

Reuters has sought comments from Sinner’s representatives and WADA.

Sinner, the current Australian Open and US Open champion, is slated to have his suspension conclude on May 4. He has consistently asserted his innocence, although his case has sparked inquiries regarding potential preferential treatment from relevant authorities.

Iga Swiatek’s situation also garnered attention when the women’s world number two received a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for trimetazidine.

Simona Halep, a former world number one, also faced a ban despite her claims of unknowingly ingesting roxadustat. Although initially suspended for four years, her ban was reduced to nine months in 2024 following an appeal to the highest sports court.

Williams further mentioned that she was always extremely cautious about what she consumed during her career, to avoid any inadvertent ingestion of banned substances.