The 2024 tennis season was a whirlwind of emotions. While Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz to become the World No.1, Iga Swiatek put on many stellar performances, including clinching the 2024 French Open title and four other titles. But what was the common factor for both Swiatek and Sinner? Well, they faced challenges beyond the court as well, including positive tests for banned substances that led to suspensions and damaged their reputations. However, Patrick Mouratoglou believes those cases were not handled as well as they could have been.

Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams for ten years, opened up on his Instagram on April 1. He was quite serious about addressing the issues that tennis players face in the system right now. Speaking on the doping controversies, he noted that there should be a change in the way cases of minimal fault or negligence, such as Jannik and Iga’s, are handled. He noted, “You cannot have an entity, the ITIA, who does the rules, the controls, and the judgment. What is this? This is unacceptable. I think the judgment has to be made by an independent tribunal. And it’s not the case today.”

For the unversed, Sinner tested positive for Clostebol twice in March 2024. Initially, the ITIA dismissed the case due to “no fault or negligence,” but WADA reopened it in September, leading to a CAS appeal. The ordeal lasted a year, culminating in a ban from February 9 to May 4. Iga Swiatek tested positive for TMZ in August and received a one-month ban, which she served quietly, missing the Asian swing and losing her No.1 spot to Sabalenka.

Both players spoke of the emotional toll, mentioning “sleepless nights” and facing intense backlash. Mouratoglou believes this could have been avoided, stating, “The ITIA decides we’re going to put four years to this person. They say it’s a tribunal, but it’s a fake tribunal because it’s a private company paid by them.” But how does the ITIA work?

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is an independent body safeguarding tennis integrity. It administers anti-corruption and anti-doping programs, investigating offenses, bringing charges, and submitting cases to independent hearing officers. Appeals go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ITIA operates with a mix of independent and industry representatives on its supervisory board, ensuring balanced decision-making.

However, when you compare it to cases like Jannik’s, it took them a year to decide on his ban. Meanwhile, players like Simona Halep tested positive for Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open and initially received a four-year ban, later reduced to nine months. This disparity raises questions about consistency in penalties. Mouratoglou emphasized, “This is called we do what we want. And this is extremely unfair. We need to be sure that people are not cheating, but it has to be done in a fair way for the players.”

This comes in hot after Novak Djokovic‘s organization, the PTPA, used Sinner’s case to highlight unfair treatment towards lower-ranked players.

The PTPA slams Jannik Sinner’s doping controversy amidst lawsuit

Last month, the tennis world was shocked when the PTPA took on the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA in a massive lawsuit. This legal battle has reignited the debate over Jannik Sinner’s doping saga from last year.

The PTPA accuses tennis authorities of invasive practices, including “invasive searches of personal devices, random middle-of-the-night drug tests, and interrogations without legal representation.” They also claim that players have been suspended “without due process based on flimsy or fabricated evidence,” and that phones have been searched without consent—a “gross invasion of privacy” and a “violation of the law.”

The lawsuit highlights Sinner’s case, questioning why he received preferential treatment compared to others. It notes that while the ITIA pursued other players aggressively, Sinner’s explanation for his positive test was quickly accepted. The lawsuit suggests that players who don’t challenge the system often face less scrutiny, stating, “Unlike its dogged pursuit of other players, however, it accepted Sinner’s explanation that his physical therapist had accidentally applied a banned substance to Sinner’s skin during treatment.”

However, PTPA Executive Director Ahmad Nassar emphasizes that Sinner is a victim of a flawed system, saying, “I’ve been consistent and clear on Jannik’s case. He was treated unfairly by an out-of-control, illegal, and not-fit-for-purpose anti-doping program.”

He underscores the need for fairness, stating, “Our solution here is not to treat him more unfairly, in line with other players. Nor is the solution even to treat other players as unfairly as Jannik. Our solution is to treat all players fairly!”

With Patrick Mouratoglou also calling for reform, there’s hope for meaningful change. Will this lawsuit be the catalyst for a fairer system? Only time will tell.