Nick Kyrgios says the high-profile doping scandals involving Grand Slam winners Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek are “disgusting” for tennis.
Italian world number one Sinner remains under threat of possible suspension after testing positive for anabolic steroids twice in March.
Swiatek, also 23, was suspended for a month after testing positive for a banned heart disease drug in August, when the Polish player was the women’s world number one.
“I think this incident has been badly handled in our sport,” said Kyrgios, a 29-year-old Australian.
“It is distasteful for our sport that two of the world’s No. 1 players are both suspended for doping.
“It looks terrible.”
Kyrgios is preparing to return to competition at the Brisbane International after an 18-month injury absence since the Stuttgart Open in June 2023.
Meanwhile, major athletes in both men’s and women’s sports have become embroiled in controversy over their respective test failures.
The International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for Clostebol, but the case has now been sent to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cast) after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched an appeal. ) was brought to.
Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension ending on December 4 after the ITIA confirmed that his positive test for trimetazidine (TMZ) was due to contamination of the regulated over-the-counter drug melatonin. .
The treatment of these two players has led to accusations of double standards, with two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep saying there was a “completely different approach” to these cases compared to her own. said.
However, ITIA strongly denies treating these cases any other way.
“Everyone knows the integrity of tennis now, but no one wants to talk about it. It’s terrible,” Kyrgios said.
“That’s not okay. I know people don’t like it when I just talk openly about things.”
In addition to returning to singles with Frenchman Giovanni Mpesi Pericard, Kyrgios will also partner Novak Djokovic in men’s doubles as he chases his 100th tour-level title in Brisbane.
