Nick Kyrgios takes swipe at Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek for ‘acting like the victim’ over failed doping tests

Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek

Nick Kyrgios has continued his attack on Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek

Nick Kyrgios has aimed another jibe at Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek by asserting that players who fail doping tests “can’t act like the victim.”

Kyrgios has been the most high-profile and outspoken detractor over Sinner and Swiatek’s respective doping cases. The Australian also hit out at Simona Halep after the Romanian’s initial four-year ban for failing drug tests (which was reduced to nine months on appeal).

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that Sinner had avoided a ban for failing two doping tests in March after an independent tribunal ruled he carried “no fault or negligence.”

The Italian tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.

The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.

The 23-year-old was stripped of the 400 ranking points and $320,000 he earned for reaching the semi-finals in Indian Wells.

In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the verdict, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the world No 1.
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On November 28, the ITIA announced that Swiatek had received a one-month suspension as it was deemed she carried “no significant fault or negligence.”

The five-time Grand Slam champion and world No 2 also had to forfeit the 390 ranking points and $159,000 she earned for reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati.

The ITIA accepted Swiatek’s explanation that the substance entered her body due to the contamination of non-prescription medication she had been using for jet lag and sleep issues.

The 23-year-old Pole was provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4, meaning she had already served 22 days of her ban on the day the news emerged. She was forced to miss WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan during the suspension period.

Kyrgios features on the latest episode of the Nothing Major podcast, which is hosted by a group of former American players: Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Jack Sock and John Isner.

When it was put to Kyrgios that he seems to enjoy being the villain of the tennis tour, he took the opportunity to continue his attack on players who have tested positive for banned substances.

“I haven’t failed any drug tests. Once you get caught, you can’t act like the victim,” the former Wimbledon finalist said.
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The 29-year-old was also asked if he thinks recreational drugs should be allowed in tennis.

“Absolutely, absolutely (laughs),” Kyrgios replied.