Serena Williams Says Jannik Sinner Doping Case Shows Tennis Double Standard

Tennis legend Serena Williams blasted the controversial handling of Jannik Sinner’s doping case in a new interview published this week.

Sinner and the World Anti-Doping Agency agreed to a three-month suspension for a positive test in a deal that shocked tennis. (The International Tennis Integrity Agency, which oversees doping in the sport, wanted an even lighter punishment for the world No. 1.) The Italian will not miss a major despite testing positive for a steroid, and Williams was the latest big name in the sport to criticize the lenient punishment.

“Fantastic personality,” Williams told Time. “I love the guy. I love this game. He’s great for the sport.” 

“I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down,” Williams continued. “Men’s tennis needs him. [But] if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.” 

Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024. Sinner’s explanation was that he was inadvertently given the substance, which the ITIA agreed with. 

Sinner said his physiotherapist was given an over-the-counter spray in Italy to treat a cut, and the spray contained the banned substance. That he was suspended at all is because WADA appealed after the ITIA’s independent tribunal accepted his excuse and reached a finding of “no fault or negligence.”

Sinner’s suspension began on Feb. 9th and extends through May 4th. 

Williams was adamant that she always applied extra care with what she consumed. “You would have heard about it in another multiverse,” and she would have been in “jail” if she tested positive.

Williams never tested positive in her career, but she regularly criticized the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s tactics while playing. In 2018, a USADA drug tester showed up at Williams’s house outside of an appointed window and refused to leave. The incident revealed that Williams was, by far, the most tested women’s player in the country, which she called “interesting.”

Williams said she was a victim of “invasive and targeted treatment” by USADA, and a year later, accused drug testers of “discrimination.”

She retired in 2022 having won 23 major women’s singles titles, 14 in women’s doubles and two in mixed doubles.