Serena Williams: I’d be banned for 20 years if I failed drug tests like Sinner
Sinner, whose ban ends on 4 May 2025, has consistently maintained his innocence. However, his case has sparked questions about potential preferential treatment, drawing comparisons to other recent doping controversies in Tennis.
Serena Williams has raised concerns over the differing treatment of male and female tennis players following Jannik Sinner's three-month ban for clostebol use.
Williams suggested that if she were in Sinner's position, she would have faced a much harsher penalty, including a 20-year suspension and the loss of her Grand Slam titles.
"I love the guy, love this game," Williams told Time Magazine, referring to Sinner. "Men's tennis needs him. But if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest."
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Sinner, whose ban ends on 4 May 2025, has consistently maintained his innocence. However, his case has sparked questions about potential preferential treatment, drawing comparisons to other recent doping controversies in Tennis. Iga Świątek, for instance, accepted a one-month suspension for trimetazidine use, while Simona Halep had her four-year ban reduced after an appeal.
Williams, who retired in 2022 with 23 Grand Slam titles, emphasised the meticulous care she took throughout her career to avoid doping issues, stressing the unequal treatment of players depending on gender.
