Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek made headlines on the tennis court in 2024 with their Grand Slam victories and historic accomplishments. However, they also faced negative attention due to their respective doping scandals.
French tennis administrator Guy Forget is among those in the tennis community who is speaking about these issues. He has compared their situations to other cases where athletes used banned substances to enhance performance.
I still have the impression that there is such a degree of sophistication in the tests. You can find a teaspoon of sugar in an Olympic swimming pool… There are so many players who take food supplements and vitamins, who can take polluted elements and who, even without knowing it, lead to positive tests. It is an absolute tragedy for those who are innocent… I am not talking about those who are guilty and repeat offenders… I put myself in the shoes of an athlete who tested positive for a substance in infinitesimal quantity. You can say to yourself ‘I am going to be prevented from living my passion’ without wanting to cheat. I see things a bit like that for Halep, Swiatek and Sinner.
Guy Forget said on Tennis Actu
Sinner’s doping scandal has been widely covered since August, with reports stating that the Italian tested positive twice for clostebol in March. While he was not suspended, the World No.1 had his prize money and ranking points from Indian Wells revoked.
Swiatek, on the other hand, received a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medication. She missed several key events in the second half of the season, completing her suspension in December. Swiatek will return to action at the United Cup starting on December 27, followed by the Australian Open.
Jannik Sinner enjoys new season training with Next Gen superstars
Jannik Sinner is gearing up for the 2025 season as he prepares to defend his Australian Open title. The tournament begins in mid-January, and the World No.1 will enter as the top seed after an incredible 2024 season. He is currently training in Dubai, following a short break after winning the ATP Finals last month.
Sinner had a dominant year in 2024, finishing as the world number one. He won eight tour-level titles, including two Grand Slams. One of his major victories came at the Australian Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling final, coming back from two sets down.
As he trains for the new season, Sinner has been joined by Martin Landaluce, the world number 151. Landaluce is a reserve player for the Next Gen ATP Finals, which features the top under-21 players of the season. The event will take place in Jeddah this week.
