Victoria Azarenka Demands More Integrity from Anti-Doping Authorities Amid the Case of Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner is set to compete at the Italian Open after being away from the tour due to a three-month suspension.
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Victoria Azarenka and Jannik Sinner (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Jannik Sinner is back on the ATP Tour after serving a three-month suspension, but his doping saga still continues to be the major discussion. Former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka addressed the controversial doping case by directing her criticism to the anti-doping agency about their regulations.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have been under serious scrutiny since Sinner’s doping case. The ATP No.1 was exonerated from all charges after testing twice positive for clostebol. WADA rejected ITIA’s ruling, insisting that Sinner bore a responsibility for what entered his system. The case was appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
However, in February, WADA acknowledged that they believe that Sinner did not intentionally take the banned substance, thereby withdrawing the case, and reaching a three-month suspension agreement with the Italian. The US Open champion served the ban from February 9 to May 4. He’s set to play at the Italian Open in Rome.
During Victoria Azarenka’s press conference, she was asked how she felt about the doping system of the sport. The Belarusian wasted no time in blasting the anti-doping agencies, especially WADA, for their regulations.
We’re still under the WADA umbrella, which makes it harder to implement some of the rules. Otherwise, we’d have to take ourselves out of the Olympic pool, which I don’t necessarily think a bad idea. We’re often asked, ‘How do you feel about [the system]?’ How I feel about it doesn’t really matter. It’s more about how the rules applied: Are they applied the same way? Is there a modification that needs to be made? I think that’s the conversation that we should be having, more about the things that can be done better.
Victoria Azarenka said via Rome Press
For the past few weeks, players have opened up about their ordeal during drug tests and their fear of testing positive for banned substances. Azarenka believes that it is down to the integrity of the anti-doping agency, adding that they must make changes to their rules.
I think overall, there has to be better integrity from the organization, personally. It’s a big problem is that we’re under WADA and WADA only has specific windows when they look to make changes to their rules. I don’t think I have all the answers, but there are valid questions that could be asked and see if it makes sense.
Victoria Azarenka said
Azarenka kicked off her Italian Open campaign with a brilliant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Camila Osorio in the first round. It marked her 230th career win in the WTA and her 28th match victory at the Italian Open. The 35-year-old will face Magdalena Frech in the second round of the Rome Masters.
Jannik Sinner faces a tough draw at the Italian Open
Jannik Sinner will return to action at the Italian Open in Rome this week. The World No.1 has been away from the tour since February and last played a competitive match in January. However, he will hope to get back to his best match rhythm in the second round against Mariano Navone or Federico Cina.
He’s projected to face No.25 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third set. Davidovich Fokina reached the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and then reached the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open. In fact, he has been to the round of 16 in all the clay tournaments he has competed in this season.
However, if Sinner overcomes the Spaniard, he’s projected to face Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round before a likely quarter-finals matchup against Casper Ruud, while his semi-final opponent could be Taylor Fritz. A win over the American will see a potential clash between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev in the final.
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