Nick Kyrgios is questioning the state of tennis as yet another player tested positive for a banned substance — this time, it’s something much worse. With recent doping cases shocking both men’s and women’s tennis, another scandal coming up so soon after is raising concerns among fans, and Nick Kyrgios is right there with them. 

The tennis world isn’t strange to doping offenses. Men’s tennis had Andre Agassi in 1997, Richard Gasquet in 2009, Marin Čilić in 2013, Viktor Troicki in 2013, and Jannik Sinner in 2024. In women’s tennis: Martina Hingis 2007, Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 2010, Maria Sharapova in 2016, and Simona Halep in 2022. Nick Kyrgios has been the biggest critic of doping incidents and hasn’t shown any mercy to the new tennis doping scandal either. 

Gonzalo Oliveira, the ATP player and Venezuelan representative was suspended on January 17th by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The Portuguese-born player tested positive for a banned substance, methamphetamine at an ATP event in Manzanillo, Mexico on November 25th. Nick Kyrgios reacted to the scandal on his Instagram story, “Steroids are fine but this is wild😂😂😂😭😭😭,” he added, “tennis world gone mad😅.”

The authorities found the same substance, methamphetamine, in Andre Agassi’s samples during his 1997 doping scandal. That resulted in a three-month suspension from professional tennis, with Agassi citing his drink was spiked. Agassi later revealed in his biography that he had lied about the details of his consumption. He also accepted that he was addicted to it. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) consider the use of prohibited, performance-enhancing substances or supplements unsportsmanlike and unethical.

This isn’t the first time Kyrgios has expressed his disappointment. Recently, the top contestants in the men’s and women’s tennis tournaments faced doping scandals which Kyrgios described as, “disgusting.” The former World No.1, Iga Swiatek tested positive for the substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024. She accepted a one-month ban for the same. After this, the ITIA accepted that her contamination was caused by the non-prescription medication melatonin sold in Poland. She was taking it for her sleep and jet lag issues. 

Adding on, the World No.1, Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March 2024. It is a performance-enhancement drug, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. They found an anabolic steroid in his urine samples at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells. Sinner clarified that the drug entered his system unintentionally. It occurred as a result of his physiotherapist applying an over-the-counter cream. Sinner did not face a long-term ban after ITIA ruled in his favor. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency is appealing this decision. 

Kyrgios further added, “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport,” he added, “Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look.”

Like Nick Kyrgios, Halep raises concerns over differences in doping sanctions

Nick Kyrgios is not the only one publically calling out doping scandals and those associated with it. Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion who retired at 33, has questioned the authorities and their manner of handling doping cases. The Romanian tennis player tested positive for a banned substance. She also committed two anti-doping violations, leading to her ban in 2022. She urged that her violation was the result of a contaminated substance. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) initially banned Halep for four years from professional tennis. However, they later reduced the suspension to nine months after she appealed. This ban kept her out of action for a while and affected her career adversely. 

After Iga Swiatek received a one-month ban, Simona Halep questioned how authorities handled doping cases. The former World No. 1 saw many similarities in her and Swiatek’s doping cases. She noted a “big difference in treatment and judgment.” She took to Instagram, “I stand and ask myself, why is there such a big difference in treatment and judgment?” she posted. “It can only be bad will from ITIA, the organization that has done absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence.” Kyrgios has not held back from criticizing the high-profile doping case of Swiatek either.

An ITIA spokesperson told BBC Sport that every case is unique, and comparisons aren’t helpful. “The product contaminated in Ms Swiatek’s case was a regulated medication, not a supplement,” they said. 

Novak Djokovic has also criticized the lack of transparency from authorities regarding doping cases. In response to World No.1, Jannik Sinner’s doping case, he said, “It’s not a good image for our sport. I’m just questioning the way the system works and why certain players aren’t treated the same as others. Maybe some ranking reasons are behind it, or some players have more financial backing and stronger legal teams to tackle these cases.”

The recent doping scandals, especially of top players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek have raised concerns on fairness and transparency in tennis. Many players like Djokovic, Kyrgios and Halep question the unfairness. However, authorities insist each case is different from another. But making sure that clear and consistent anti-doping rules are in place is vital for the sport’s integrity.