Martina Navratilova blasts anti-doping system which ‘stinks’ and needs to be ‘blown up’ as she comes in Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s defense
Martina Navratilova believes in Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek's innocence and wants the doping system to undergo an overhaul.
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Iga Swiatek, Martina Navratilova, Jannik Sinner (Images via X, The Today Show)
Martina Navratilova questioned anti-doping agencies for their verdict on Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek‘s cases. Navratilova has no doubt of the innocence of the two top players and said the doping system needs a complete overhaul.
Banned substances, clostebol and trimetazidine, at low levels, were found in Sinner and Swiatek’s samples respectively last year for which they were provisionally suspended. While Sinner faced two provisional suspensions, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) imposed a one-month ban on the Pole ace.
This sparked a huge controversy, for several players’ careers were in jeopardy in the past due to a lengthy ban, in spite of them accidentally consuming a banned substance. There has been a demand for a complete change in the anti-doping system and Navratilova also echoed the same sentiments.
I’ll be very diplomatic here and say that it all stinks. The whole system needs to be blown up and started over again.
Martina Navratilova said on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast
Both Sinner and Swiatek apparently bore no fault and negligence. In Sinner’s case, clostebol entered his system because of his then physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, who used an over-the-counter spray that contained the drug. Swiatek was contaminated due to melatonin medication.
Both Sinner and Swiatek, the no. 1s [Swiatek was No.1 when she failed the test], for sure they were not doping. I mean, we’re trying to catch cheaters and not people that have their massage creams on their body or took a sleeping pill that they’ve been taking for five years, and now it’s tainted.
Martina Navratilova added
Martina Navrátilová, considered one of the best tennis players of all time, harshly attacks the world's anti-doping system, saying it should be blown up and restarted again.
— DDN10 ⚽🎾🌖 (@ddn10_) January 12, 2025
WADA should hunt down cheaters.#Sinner and #Swiatek obviously are not.@Martina 👏👏
Game, set, match 💥 pic.twitter.com/qRe1QEOikN
Martina Navratilova doesn’t understand the reason behind WADA’s appeal on Jannik Sinner’s case
Martina Navratilova can’t fathom the reason why players have to face a long ban if they didn’t intentionally take banned substances to enhance their performance. She censured the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for challenging the ITIA ruling on Sinner’s case.
I mean, you’re guilty until proven innocent in this and for Sinner, he thought he was done with it and now WADA is appealing? Why? I just don’t get it. There has to be a lot of light shone onto this. We just need to get a better system than what we had.
Martina Navratilova said on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast
WADA has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to demand a ban on Sinner for between one and two years. CAS’ hearing on the Sinner case is scheduled in April this year.
Both Sinner and Swiatek are in Melbourne for the Australian Open and have secured a berth in the second round. Sinner overcame Nicolas Jarry to set himself a second-round clash with Tristan Schoolkate. Swiatek, on the other hand, breezed past Katerina Siniakova and is set to play Rebecca Sramkova.
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