Stanislas Wawrinka blasts authorities for ruining the ‘good image’ of tennis following Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek doping scandals

Stan Wawrinka gave his take on the doping saga amidst the recent PTPA lawsuit and clarified his tweet on Jannik Sinner's suspension.

Stanislas Wawrinka blasts authorities for ruining the ‘good image’ of tennis following Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek doping scandals

Stanislas Wawrinka, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek (Image via ATP/X)

In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Stan Wawrinka spoke about the doping cases that have plagued tennis last year, especially in the context of the recent PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) lawsuit. The 163 page lawsuit filed against tennis governing bodies touched upon various aspects, including anti-competitive practices, prize money, ranking points, the tennis schedule, player welfare, and anti-doping/anti-corruption investigations.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner tested positive twice last year for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. But the Italian was cleared of wrongdoing by a panel of experts who concluded that he bore no fault.

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However, in August the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the panel’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), and sought a ban of between one and two years for Sinner. The hearing for their appeal was initially scheduled in April.

However, a few weeks after Sinner’s Australian Open triumph this year, the body accepted Sinner’s explanation that the steroid entered his body inadvertently due to his physiotherapist’s use of a spray. WADA, in the second week of February, announced that it had settled an agreement with Sinner’s representatives for a suspension for him from February 9 to May 4. Bearing responsibility for the negligence of his entourage, they deemed a three-month ban appropriate for this case.

Wawrinka, talking for the first time in an interview openly, hoped that the sport adopts a transparent process for a better image of its representation. The Swiss ace had earlier expressed his frustration on the doping saga via his social media accounts.

It’s a difficult topic, it’s not easy to explain everything in detail. Many things have happened in tennis, men’s and women’s, in recent years and our sport has not given a good image. I hope the situation improves.

Stan Wawrinka said via Corriere dello Sport

In addition to Sinner’s case, in August 2024, Iga Swiatek, tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the positive test resulted from contamination in a melatonin supplement the Pole was using to address sleep issues.

Given the unintentional nature of the violation and Swiatek’s prompt cooperation, the ITIA imposed a one-month suspension from September 12 to October 4, 2024. However, unlike Sinner, Swiatek did not face an appeal from the WADA, as the body stated that Swiatek’s explanation for the positive result was “plausible.”

Stan Wawrinka speaks about his tweet on doping

When the WADA ban imposed on Jannik Sinner was announced last month, several players reacted to the decision expressing their frustration over the anti-doping system in the sport. Stan Wawrinka had tweeted his disappointment over the decision on February 15, 2025.

Jannik Sinner, Stan Wawrinka
Jannik Sinner, Stan Wawrinka (Images via ATP/X)

If you look at the last year, two number Is tested positive. And we players only found out about it several months later. What we ask for is total transparency and I hope that things will improve for tennis, that they will move forward in a different way. At the end of the day, we just hope for great matches and we don’t want to see anyone out of our sport, let alone the number 1 in the world. We want transparency, that’s all that matters.

Stan Wawrinka revealed

When asked about the tweet Wawrinka, reiterated the need for total transparency in the system. He spoke about how these cases came to the public much after their occurrence and expressed that he would not like to see anyone of the sport, let alone the World No. 1.

Stan Wawrinka calls the ‘Big 4’ special

Wawrinka also spoke about the ‘Big 4’. Wawrinka had some great matches with them and even won an Olympic gold in doubles partnering with Roger Federer. He had a 10-13 record over Andy Murray, 3-19 over Rafael Nadal, 3-23 over Roger Federer and 6-21 over Novak Djokovic.

What happened with the Big 4 was special. They won not only the Slams but also the less important tournaments. The consistency they had for 20 years is something that will be difficult to beat. The level of tennis today is very high: Sinner and Alcaraz. For example, I like to watch them play and I hope they will continue to go strong in the coming years.

Stan Wawrinka added

Wawrinka also impressively clinched three Grand Slam titles in the era of the ‘Big 4’. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are often seen as the next generation of tennis legends, with questions always arising whether they can duplicate the accomplishments of the Big 4. Wawrinka expressed his faith in the new generation and wished them well.