What’s with tennis and doping making headlines together again? Another doping controversy has rocked the sport, with Max Purcell being provisionally suspended for breaking the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) rules. The 26-year-old Australian tennis player admitted to receiving an intravenous vitamin infusion that exceeded the 100ml limit set by WADA. The suspension, which started on December 12, prevents Purcell from competing, coaching, or attending tennis events. Though the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) hasn’t confirmed the length of the ban, it could keep him out of next month’s Australian Open.

Fellow Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios didn’t waste time weighing in on Purcell’s suspension. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he said, “Gee wiz our sport is in the mud at the moment.”

Nick Kyrgios and his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinaki defeated compatriots, Max Purcell and Matt Ebden at the finals of the Australian Open Men’s Doubles in 2022 to claim the trophy. The Special K defeated their opponents in a straight setter with a scoreline of 7-5,6-4. However, Purcell had later commented on the duos ‘disrespectful’ behaviour in a post-match interview. He had said, “I think it was great for ticket sales here but I’m not so sure how it was taken overseas, if you’re watching some of Nick and Thanasi’s matches earlier in the week and you’re overseas, maybe you get turned off tennis a little bit.”

Nick Kyrgios, who heard Purcell’s remarks, lashed out against the Australian on his Instagram story. He wrote, “As for @maxpurcell you donut, regarding your comments after the match, you clearly have no idea about entertainment and sport. If you haven’t noticed there is a reason why people actually come to my matches. It’s because the level and my game are actually worth watching. Next time you lose another slam final, you should just put your head down and try to figure out how to play the big points better. No need to slate other Aussies in the media cuz people would rather watch paint dry than your [serve and volley] game style.”

The Wimbledon finalist has garnered a reputation for not mincing his words. He has also been very active in giving his opinions on the other doping cases that have taken the tennis world by storm.

Nick Kyrgios’s strong opinions on Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s doping cases

Max Purcell’s case isn’t the first doping scandal this year. Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner have also been at the center of doping controversy recently. Jannik Sinner tested positive for a prohibited substance, Clostebol in March 2024. He was contaminated as he took a massage from his physiotherapist without the proper precautions. The ITIA cleared the Italian player of all wrongdoing but he had to forfeit his Indian Wells prize money. The WADA is currently appealing the case and the hearing is likely to take place in 2025 after the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek had unintentionally consumed TMZ, through a contaminated melatonin tablet. She served a month’s suspension for her test and had to forgo her Cincinnati Open prize money.

Nick Kyrgios has been a vocal critic of both cases and has refused to accept any of their justifications for the same. Discussing Iga’s case on X he tweeted, “The excuse that we can all use is that we didn’t know. Simply didn’t know. Professionals at the highest level of sport can now just say, ‘we didn’t know.’” 

When it came to Jannik Sinner, Kyrgios wrote, “Whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice.”

The Australian star is gearing up for his big return after spending 2023 recovering from injury. Known for being the only player to reach a Grand Slam final without a coach, Kyrgios has spent the past year making waves as a commentator on the court. Now, he’s ready to make waves on the court again.

He will return to the court at the Australian Open. Can Kyrgios make a successful comeback in a sport he says is “in the mud”?