"You won't become number one in the world thanks to doping": Former world number three defends Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek after doping scandal

Former Russian player Nikolay Davydenko has defended Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Poland’s Iga Swiatek after they were criticized for their involvement in the doping scandal. Both players are regarded among the best in men’s and women’s tennis, but they were involved in doping scandals in 2024.

Sinner tested positive for a banned substance, Clostebol, in two doping tests. However, the reigning world number one managed to escape a potential ban after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the player’s counsel response where they claimed that the availability of a banned substance in the player’s sample in minimal quantity was because of receiving a cream from one member of the coaching staff to treat an injury.

On the other hand, reigning women’s world number two Iga Swiatek received a one-match suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. Both decisions received widespread criticism from certain quarters of the tennis community as they demanded a more uniform treatment of all players who are involved in such scandals.

However, former world number three Davydenko has defended both players. The two-time US Open semifinalist was recently quoted in a report arguing that no pill or substance can make anyone a better player. The 43-year-old also believes that no one can become world number one thanks to doping.

"You go to the pharmacy, take a pill for the bronchi and there is salbutamol, which is considered doping,” he said. “You always have to go to a sports doctor, it's such an absurdity. You won't become a better player by taking a pill. Tennis is tennis, you won't become number one in the world thanks to doping. It used to be easier to regulate doping. We were also pressured, but we perceived it as normal. I didn't worry much, I drank and ate everywhere without even thinking about possible consequences in this sense. Today the situation has worsened.”