Serena Williams Questions Fairness After Sinner’s Doping Suspension

BENGALURU, India — Tennis legend Serena Williams stated she believes she would have faced a 20-year ban and had her Grand Slam titles stripped if she had failed drug tests like current men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner did last year. Williams made her remarks on April 17, 2025, in light of Sinner’s recent three-month suspension for testing positive for clostebol, an anabolic agent, following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner who retired from competitive tennis in 2022, expressed admiration for Sinner, saying, “I love the guy, love this game. He’s great for the sport,” during an interview after being named to the Time100 list of most influential people. However, she stressed the difference in how drug test violations are treated among players, saying, “If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.”

Jannik Sinner accepted his suspension in February 2025, which will lift on May 4, after a series of positive tests raised questions about his handling of the incident. He maintains that trace amounts of clostebol in his samples were due to unintentional contamination following a massage by a trainer. The case has garnered attention, with some commentators, including Williams, raising concerns about perceived favoritism within the anti-doping system.

Williams, 43, reflected on her own rigorous approach to doping controls throughout her career. “I always took extra care with what I put into my body,” she said, acknowledging the pressure that comes with maintaining a clean image in the sport. She joked that a scandal during her playing days would have been monumental. “You would have heard about it in another multiverse,” Williams said.

The debate surrounding Sinner’s suspension intensified as other players also chimed in. Iga Swiatek, the women’s world No. 2, accepted a one-month suspension for a separate doping violation involving trimetazidine last November. Former world No. 1 Simona Halep received a four-year suspension for a banned drug, which was later reduced to nine months after an appeal.

Nick Kyrgios, an outspoken critic, and other players expressed skepticism regarding the fairness of the anti-doping process in light of the leniency shown to Sinner. Kyrgios tweeted, “Fairness in tennis does not exist,” while three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka voiced his disbelief in the integrity of the sport, stating, “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore.”

Despite her retirement, Williams still feels a connection to the sport and has not ruled out possible involvement in the future. “I miss it a lot, with all my heart,” she said, noting the positive aspect of being in good health. “If I couldn’t walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn’t miss it as much.”

Looking ahead, Sinner is set to return for the Italian Open scheduled for May 7, just ahead of the French Open beginning on May 25. With such events approaching, the scrutiny on doping practices within tennis continues to grow as discussions around equitable treatment of players remain at the forefront of the sport.