Doping controversies have become the talk of the town ever since the case of Jannik Sinner came to light. The World Number 1 tested positive for the banned substance, Clostebol, and was recently handed a three-month suspension by WADA. While some players came out in support of Sinner, many criticized the short sentence handed to him, alleging favoritism because he was a top player on the ATP circuit. However, Andy Roddick defended him and gave an example of Sinner’s compatriot to explain this matter.

A couple of years back, Marco Bortolotti also tested positive for Clostebol but his case was solved within three months, and he escaped any punishment. Bortolotti’s case was only made public when a conclusion was drawn and as a result, it settled quickly without much controversy. Taking an example of this, Roddick jumped to Sinner’s defense.

During the Served With Andy Roddick podcast, the American legend said, “[Marco] Bortolotti, who is an Italian player, his career-high doubles ranking is 102. So not exactly someone who if it is a club or if the system is rigged, not exactly someone who Andrea Gaudenzi who is an Italian CEO would protect, it does no service to do that for someone who nobody really knows outside of the Challenger circuit of tennis, Bortolotti goes through and proves that there was no intent. Guess what he got suspended for? Zero, nothing, not three months.”

Meanwhile, the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov came out hard against Sinner for escaping with a three-month ban. While Kyrgios called the case ‘ridiculous,’ Shapovalov couldn’t believe that Sinner was banned for just three months. However, Bortolotti hit out at the two and said, “They read a title and speak because they have the tongue or because they are envious. (Jannik Sinner) has all my solidarity and support.”

Amid this saga, Novak Djokovic explained the position of the players on Jannik Sinner’s 3-month ban. The Serb expressed disappointment in the dressing room over partiality done in this matter.

Novak Djokovic admits that players are unhappy with Jannik Sinner escaping major punishment

A few years back, Simona Halep received a 9-month ban after she tested positive for a banned substance. Interestingly, like Sinner, she also expressed her innocence in this case but her pleas went unheard and she was banned for nine months. On the other hand, Sinner escaped with just 3 months on the sidelines.

As a result, Djokovic, during an interview, revealed, “There’s a majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled. The majority of the players don’t feel it’s fair. The majority of the players feel there is favoritism happening. It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you’re a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers and whatnot. Swiatek and Sinner are innocent unless it’s proven otherwise. Right now they are innocent.”

Owing to his ban, Sinner will miss some key tournaments like the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open, although he will be able to participate in the French Open. Can Sinner come back strongly after his doping ban? Let us know your views in the comments below.