Nick Kyrgios has launched a savage attack on tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for violations of the sport’s anti-doping programme, calling their conduct “disgusting to our sport”.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) brought charges against world number one Sinner and former world number one Iga Swiatek for violations.
Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, but avoided a suspension because the ITIA determined he was not at fault.
Swiatek also managed to accept a one-month suspension in November for testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
“Two world number ones convicted of doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look,” Kyrgios said at his press conference at the Brisbane International.
“The integrity of tennis right now and everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it, it’s horrible.”
Nick Kyrgios has launched another vicious attack on tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for violations of the sport’s anti-doping program.
Sinner tested positive twice in March for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol
Kyrgios, 29, has not played tennis tournaments since June 2023 due to wrist and knee injuries. He was asked about his motivations for speaking out about the Sinner and Swiatek situations.
“Someone like me… would never even try to dope me in this sport in my entire life,” he said.
“Especially going through an injury like I did, obviously there are things that could speed up the healing, help me get back to the main level, help my recovery.
“There are so many things that are prohibited in our sport that I could have done to recover faster… (but) that’s not who I am.” I’m always against that.
“So when people say I’m disrespectful to the sport, I think someone like that who has tried to game the process, and hasn’t really done it completely on their own merits, is the disrespectful one in my opinion.
‘I have to be frank about it because I don’t think there are enough people talking about it. “I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug.”
Sinner had successfully argued that his physiotherapist had accidentally contaminated him during treatment with clostebol which had been transferred from a cut on his own hand.
Kyrgios raised questions about what happened next.
Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November for testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
Kyrgios says he will not be ‘silent’ on doping issues in tennis
“I pay my team hundreds and thousands of dollars to be the professionals that they are and to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Kyrgios said.
Then they knew what had happened. Why did they wait five to six months to do something about it? He kept his team for five months… that doesn’t make sense.
‘I would be furious. If my physical therapist contaminated me, put me in this situation, I would probably never talk to that guy again. He had him on his team for five months, acting as if nothing had happened.
Kyrgios has been criticized for his outspokenness but said he would not budge on issues he held dear.
“For a kid who grew up playing tennis, I enjoyed the competition, I enjoyed playing,” he said.
“I can get excited, I can throw a racket, but that’s nothing compared to cheating and taking performance-enhancing drugs.” That’s ridiculous in my opinion. Anyway, I’m not going to shut up.
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of her United Cup campaign in Sydney on Saturday, Swiatek was “really grateful” not to have come under intense criticism.
“The reaction in Poland basically – because this is mainly what I read – has been quite supportive,” he said.
Kyrgios has not played tennis tournaments since June 2023 due to wrist and knee injuries
“I really appreciate it a lot, because even, you know, when I missed the China swing and no one knew why it wasn’t that easy.”
“After the information about my case was published, I was afraid that most people would turn their back on me, but I felt the support and it’s great.”
Swiatek also does not expect WADA to appeal his case and sent a message to those who question his integrity.
“Obviously there will be some negative comments and you’re not going to avoid them,” he said.
“That’s something that will always follow us, no matter what.”