Serena Williams claims she would’ve had Grand Slams taken away from her if she had tested positive for drugs as she watches Jannik Sinner serve a matter of months as his punishment. The Italian is coming to the end of his three-month ban after twice testing positive for banned anabolic steroid Clostebol in 2024.
The World No 1, who has retained top spot in the rankings even though he’s been absent, was involved in a long-running saga after it came to light that he’d test positive for a banned substance during the tournament at Indian Wells last year. Already in 2025 Sinner has claimed the Australian Open.
Sinner and his team argued that the trace amounts found in his samples were due to a steroid cream that physio applied to treat a cut on his finger. It had therefore been transferred when he was massaging the Grand Slam champion.
An independent tribunal accepted the explanation and ruled that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive tests. Williams, who won 23 Grand Slams during a record-breaking career, maintains she would’ve been hit with a far harsher punishment had she faced the same scenario.
She told TIME: “Fantastic personality. 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. Men’s tennis needs him. If I did that [fail a drugs test], I would have got 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have got Grand Slams taken away from me.”
Several current players on tour have been vocal about their feelings regarding Sinner’s ban, which many considered to be extremely lenient. Nick Kyrgios claimed that it was a “sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist” as he lamented the shortness of the penalty.
Plenty also considered the timing of Sinner’s ban to be far too convenient. The three-time Grand Slam winner was hit with his punishment soon after winning the Australian Open, but returns just in time to compete in the French Open, which means he’s not missed the major tournaments.
Tim Henman said the timing of Sinner’s ban has left a ‘sour taste’. He told Sky Sports : “It just seems a little bit too convenient. To miss three months of the Tour and therefore to be eligible to play at Roland Garros, the timing couldn’t have been any better for Sinner, but I still think it leaves a pretty sour taste for the sport.
“When you start reading words like settlement or agreement, it feels like there’s been a negotiation and I don’t think that will sit well with the player cohort and the fans of the sport.”
Sinner has previously maintained his innocence and claimed he accepted the ban even though he “wasn’t really in agreement” because he had to “choose the least worst option”.
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