French Open Champion Calls for Life Ban on Sinner & Swiatek

vokazu

Legend


The tennis world has been rocked by doping controversies, and the shockwaves just keep coming. After Jannik Sinner‘s doping saga stirred the community, Polish sensation Iga Swiatek found herself at the center of her own storm. Although cleared of charges and allowed to return to competition, the criticism hasn’t let up—and opinions are flying in from every corner of the tennis sphere. Adding his voice to the conversation is none other than former French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The Russian legend didn’t mince words as he weighed in on the controversy, sharing a fresh take on the entire matter.

In a major revelation that came to light on Thursday, November 28th, the Polish tennis sensation accepted a one-month ban for a positive doping test. The information was confirmed through a statement shared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) which ruled that the consumption of the substance was intentional. It was found that Swiatek tested positive for low levels of Trimetazidine also known as TMZ, in an out-of-competition sample in August 2024 ahead of the Cincinnati Masters. However, the Pole explained to the investigative agency contamination was caused unintentionally by the contamination of one of her medications, melatonin. But despite being acquitted of the charges, the entire doping case has continued to gain attention including criticisms pouring in for the player.

In a post shared by Kafelnikov on X, he demanded a life ban on any player found guilty of doping. “It should be LIFE ban for anybody who gets caught using banned substances! NO excuses and ZERO tolerance no matter who you are!!!!” This can be seen as a clear attack on both Sinner and Swiatek who have been accused of preferential treatment time and again by many in the tennis community.


Remember, earlier Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol during Indian Wells. However, it was found that his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi used a spray to treat an injury on his finger which contained the substance. And since he massaged Sinner without gloves, the substance was eventually transmitted. Admitting the explanation, ITIA let him go with a fine, which led to accusations of biased judgment. Interestingly, Kafelnikov is not the only person who has responded in such a manner over the entire case.

Reacting to the latest doping cases that have come to light, Nick Kyrgios took to his X account and wrote, “OUR SPORT IS COOKED.” Similar anger was witnessed by British player Tara Moore. Expressing her surprise over the judgment, she wrote, “I took 19 months off as I had to make a ‘change to my team’ too guys. Let’s not forget, mine was also contaminated, and 2 other people also tested positive yet ITIA are appealing my case. Why is no one seriously looking into the corruption of the organisations that govern us?” Remember, Moore faced a 19-month provisional suspension after testing positive for anabolic steroids boldenone and nandrolone in May 2022.

Ultimately it was found that the substance in her body was due to contaminated meat, and hence the delay in her case was questioned yet again when Swiatek’s case came to light. But amidst the criticism, the former World No. 1 is also facing some support as well, with the Women’s Tennis Association leading from the front.

Iga Swiatek boasted a stark clean record until the latest doping case came to light. But while she has been acquitted of the charges, criticisms are not simmering against the Pole. In such a situation as this, all an athlete desires is some support and the Women’s Tennis Association is providing just that to the Polish star.

The WTA released a statement soon after the doping case came to light. Expressing support for Swiatek, the statement read, “The WTA fully supports Iga during this difficult time. Iga has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to fair play and upholding the principles of clean sport, and this unfortunate incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating the use of medications and supplements.” However, this is not stopping experts like Yevgeny Kafelnikov from sharing their harsh takes.

As the entire controversy evolves, it would be interesting to see if Iga Swiatek would come out and respond to the naysayers with a vehement reply anytime soon.



Nick Kyrgios’ Blunt Critique on Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner’s Doping Issues Draws Canadian WTA Pro’s Support​


On Friday, Nick Kyrgios reflected on their reasoning, and wrote, “The excuse that we can all use is that we didn’t know. Simply didn’t know. Professionals at the highest level of sport can now just say “we didn’t know”. He wanted to say that such explanations indicate that a player is avoiding accountability by just being naïve. Well, it seems like Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard also agrees with Kyrgios. It becomes quite evident from her response to his post where she simply wrote “Guess so”.

 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
I'm not a fan of lifetime bans personally, but players who tested positive in the past got hammered and/or reputational damage.

When it came out, in December 1998, about Petr Korda testing positive at 1998 Wimbledon, and he got no ban from the ITF initially, he got ostracized by nearly all his fellow players at the time. The ITF appealed against their own ruling, and appealed again, and eventually banned Korda. Korda was retired by then though, after his ranking had crashed.
 
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Lauren_Girl'

Hall of Fame
4948982790954cb24e00d84a0a534340aafdb2a3.gif
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
You might have said that about the Soviet Union or the DDR, but not Russia. Sinner and Swiatek belong to NATO countries and they are the ones who took dope and got off.

Cheating in sports is one of the national pastimes of Russia, he must go against the grain there.
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
You might have said that about the Soviet Union or the DDR, but not Russia. Sinner and Swiatek belong to NATO countries and they are the ones who took dope and got off.
lol. The Russian federation is banned from the winter Olympics for widespread doping violations and attempts at both coverups, and interfering with ongoing investigations by WADA. The country might’ve changed in some ways from the Soviet Union days, but institutionalized doping certainly has not.
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
Cheating in sports is one of the national pastimes of Russia, he must go against the grain there.
The US are so innocent. LOL. The Ben Johnson controversy was massive hypocrisy, when Carl Lewis was given gold medals after failing 3 drug tests himself.

To this day, Johnson denies taking the actual steroid that he tested positive for in 1988, i.e. stanozolol.

The winners write history. It reminds me of a Doctor Who exchange:

Doctor: Marshal, you are quite mad
Marshal: Ha. Only if I lose.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
The masseurs and masseuses involved in doping cases should be banned for life.
To make this clear, they shouldn't be allowed to touch other people's bodies for life.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
I'm sorry to say but just like Wimbledon banned Russian players for the crime of being born Russian, WADA's policy toward Russia is more bad politics than good policy.

lol. The Russian federation is banned from the winter Olympics for widespread doping violations and attempts at both coverups, and interfering with ongoing investigations by WADA. The country might’ve changed in some ways from the Soviet Union days, but institutionalized doping certainly has not.
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
I always love kafelnikov’s takes.

The dunderhead Kafelnikov cannot be serious. You cannot banish the beloved #1 ATP player and the beloved #1 WTA player for life.

It is a first offence for both of them. And their stories are somewhat plausible.

Holy Overreaction!
 
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Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
.
To this day, Johnson denies taking the actual steroid that he tested positive for in 1988, i.e. stanozolol.
By the way, there's a forum user here that should be banned for abuse of lolololol.
He regularly posts in the Srsh thread.
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
Why not? Is ATP #1 status like attaining US Presidency?

Kavelnikov is just seeking attention and making drama. A lifetime ban is too harsh of a penalty for a first offence.

Where was Kavelnikov when his buddy Agassi was testing positive for dope?
:unsure:


Agassi actually had a run in with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the policing entity of tennis, back in 1997. That year, Agassi failed a drug test, and when confronted by the ATP, he reportedly came up with a lie, saying that he had taken a drink of his assistant’s spiked drink, thus causing him to test positive for crystal methamphetamine. The case was withdrawn, and we all assumed he was telling the truth, but apparently we shouldn’t have believed him so quickly. It makes you wonder how many other tennis players got away with drugs during that time. If a simple letter could counter the results of a drug test, it seems like the ATP might not have been trying too hard to catch players that were using drugs.


In the case of Agassi, it would make sense – the same organization that policed tennis was also the one responsible for promoting it. Losing Agassi to the grip of drugs would have been very detrimental to the sport. Maybe it was just easier for them to believe Agassi’s story and pretend like nothing ever happened.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
Kavelnikov is just seeking attention and making drama. A lifetime ban is too harsh of a penalty for a first offence.

Where was Kavelnikov when his buddy Agassi was testing positive for dope?
:unsure:


Agassi actually had a run in with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the policing entity of tennis, back in 1997. That year, Agassi failed a drug test, and when confronted by the ATP, he reportedly came up with a lie, saying that he had taken a drink of his assistant’s spiked drink, thus causing him to test positive for crystal methamphetamine. The case was withdrawn, and we all assumed he was telling the truth, but apparently we shouldn’t have believed him so quickly. It makes you wonder how many other tennis players got away with drugs during that time. If a simple letter could counter the results of a drug test, it seems like the ATP might not have been trying too hard to catch players that were using drugs.


In the case of Agassi, it would make sense – the same organization that policed tennis was also the one responsible for promoting it. Losing Agassi to the grip of drugs would have been very detrimental to the sport. Maybe it was just easier for them to believe Agassi’s story and pretend like nothing ever happened.
Thanks for your extensive response.
I will look into it and revert no later than next week, once I have completed my research on Agassi's case, in order to ensure a fruitful discussion.
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
Thanks for your extensive response.
I will look into it and revert no later than next week, once I have completed my research on Agassi's case, in order to ensure a fruitful discussion.

Also note that Sinner has earned more prize money in last six months, including the Saudi Six Kings exhibition, than Kavelnikov earned in his entire career.

That would explain Kavelnikov's extreme level of saltiness towards the young Sinner.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
Also note that Sinner earned more prize money in last six months, including Six Kings, than Kavelnikov did in his entire career.

That would explain Kavelnikov's extreme level of saltiness towards the young Sinner.
Noted. This is very helpful for my upcoming research. Thanks again.
 

RSJfan

Hall of Fame
Kavelnikov is just seeking attention and making drama. A lifetime ban is too harsh of a penalty for a first offence.

Where was Kavelnikov when his buddy Agassi was testing positive for dope?
:unsure:


You left out the best part of the story. Agassi’s drug supplier/“friend” went by the name Slim. :cool:
 
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vokazu

Legend
Cheating in sports is one of the national pastimes of Russia, he must go against the grain there.
Just like Lance Armstrong, Michael Brinegar, Ryan Lochte, Kensey Paige McMahon, Tyler Hamilton, Mary Akor Basley, Randy Barnes, Kenta Bell, Scott Boothby, Kevin Braunskill, Brian Frasure, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Trevor Graham, Mickey Grimes, Alvin Harrison, Calvin Harrison, C.J. Hunter, Regina Jacobs, Marion Jones, Jeff Laynes, Jud Logan, John McEwen, Inika McPherson, LaShawn Merritt , Dennis Mitchell, Tim Montgomery, Carl Myerscough, Antonio Pettigrew, Butch Reynolds, Mike Rodgers, Duane Ross, Serene Ross, Mark Rowe, Garrett Scantling, Lindsey Scherf, Wallace Spearmon, Gregg Tafralis, Kory Tarpenning, Kevin Toth, Larry Wade, Erick Walder, Delisa Walton-Floyd, Bernard Williams, Ivory Williams, Jerome Young, Carl Lewis, Atalelech Ketema, Gea Johnson, Mark Jelks, Shelby Houlihan, Eddy Hellebuyck, Bill Green, Mike Gravelle, Greg Foster, Lee Evans, Torri Edwards, Debbie Dunn, Jon Drummond, Jim Doehring, Tony Dees, Walter Davis, Bonnie Dasse, Crystal Cox, Shawn Crawford, Jessica Cosby, Michelle Collins, Ramon Clay, Hazel Clark, Damu Cherry, LaMark Carter, John Capel, Jillian Camarena-Williams, Gwen Berry, Michael Berry, Duncan Atwood, etc
 
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Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
The US are so innocent. LOL. The Ben Johnson controversy was massive hypocrisy, when Carl Lewis was given gold medals after failing 3 drug tests himself.

To this day, Johnson denies taking the actual steroid that he tested positive for in 1988, i.e. stanozolol.

The winners write history. It reminds me of a Doctor Who exchange:

Doctor: Marshal, you are quite mad
Marshal: Ha. Only if I lose.
Carl Lewis. Straight fraud.
 

norcal

Legend
Just like Lance Armstrong, Michael Brinegar, Ryan Lochte, Kensey Paige McMahon, Tyler Hamilton, Mary Akor Basley, Randy Barnes, Kenta Bell, Scott Boothby, Kevin Braunskill, Brian Frasure, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Trevor Graham, Mickey Grimes, Alvin Harrison, Calvin Harrison, C.J. Hunter, Regina Jacobs, Marion Jones, Jeff Laynes, Jud Logan, John McEwen, Inika McPherson, LaShawn Merritt , Dennis Mitchell, Tim Montgomery, Carl Myerscough, Antonio Pettigrew, Butch Reynolds, Mike Rodgers, Duane Ross, Serene Ross, Mark Rowe, Garrett Scantling, Lindsey Scherf, Wallace Spearmon, Gregg Tafralis, Kory Tarpenning, Kevin Toth, Larry Wade, Erick Walder, Delisa Walton-Floyd, Bernard Williams, Ivory Williams, Jerome Young, Carl Lewis, Atalelech Ketema, Gea Johnson, Mark Jelks, Shelby Houlihan, Eddy Hellebuyck, Bill Green, Mike Gravelle, Greg Foster, Lee Evans, Torri Edwards, Debbie Dunn, Jon Drummond, Jim Doehring, Tony Dees, Walter Davis, Bonnie Dasse, Crystal Cox, Shawn Crawford, Jessica Cosby, Michelle Collins, Ramon Clay, Hazel Clark, Damu Cherry, LaMark Carter, John Capel, Jillian Camarena-Williams, Gwen Berry, Michael Berry, Duncan Atwood, etc
I think he's referring to instutional (state sponsored) doping.

But in the months following the Sochi Games, journalists uncovered a deeply entrenched Russian doping system.

Investigators described the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs as an "institutional conspiracy" involving more than 1,000 athletes.

In 2017, Russia was suspended from the Olympics by the IOC.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Yes, that seems to be the "Get out of Jail Free" card, but ...

Sinner and Swiatek seem to have benefited from an extreme degree of leniency and the beauty of our system is we don't know who decided this or why things panned out so beautifully for them.

 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
Also note that Sinner has earned more prize money in last six months, including the Saudi Six Kings exhibition, than Kavelnikov earned in his entire career.

That would explain Kavelnikov's extreme level of saltiness towards the young Sinner.
It also means that if Sinner gets banned for life, his lifestyle will still be ok.
 

jmnk

Hall of Fame
Yes, that seems to be the "Get out of Jail Free" card, but ...

Sinner and Swiatek seem to have benefited from an extreme degree of leniency and the beauty of our system is we don't know who decided this or why things panned out so beautifully for them.
what do you mean we don't know who or why? It is all written in plain English in the verdict For your reading pleasure https://www.itia.tennis/media/re1pfjkz/2024-11-27-itia-v-swiatek-itia-decision.pdf
you may not agree with the verdict, and if you were the one deciding you could have ruled differently - but it is incorrect to say we do not know who or why.
Let me ask you a question. Tara Moore got completely exonerated (well, for now, ITIA is appealing). Do you have a problem that the things panned out beautifully for her?
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Tell me which individuals decided the cases then, with their complete CVs, and which other individuals or committees decided that these people rather than those people got to decide?

We know why only in the sense of the reasons stated in the judgement, and appended signatures, but we don't have access to the file of documents from which they selectively chose to find pertinent evidence.

Our Western institutions are not as trustworthy as you may think.

As for Tara Moore, all I can say is that she got the usual doping control marathon race to prove her innocence which is the norm. The Sinner and Swiatek short sprints are anomalous. Tara Moore proves my point.

what do you mean we don't know who or why? It is all written in plain English in the verdict For your reading pleasure https://www.itia.tennis/media/re1pfjkz/2024-11-27-itia-v-swiatek-itia-decision.pdf
you may not agree with the verdict, and if you were the one deciding you could have ruled differently - but it is incorrect to say we do not know who or why.
Let me ask you a question. Tara Moore got completely exonerated (well, for now, ITIA is appealing). Do you have a problem that the things panned out beautifully for her?
 
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roysid

Legend
Steve Tignor wrote in tennis magazine that while the ban is minimal, it causes huge damage to reputation and mental state of the players involved i.e Sinner and Swiatek. And it gives a big bad name to the atp and wta as they are seen as protecting top players
 

jmnk

Hall of Fame
Tell me which individuals decided the cases then, with their complete CVs, and which other individuals or committees decided that these people rather than those people got to decide?
are you serious? Do you want me to also provide their personal addresses, the birthdays, and a list of acquaintances?
We know why only in the sense of the reasons stated in the judgement, and appended signatures, but we don't have access to the file of documents from which they selectively chose to find pertinent evidence.

Our Western institutions are not as trustworthy as you may think.

As for Tara Moore, all I can say is that she got the usual doping control marathon race to prove her innocence which is the norm. The Sinner and Swiatek short sprints are anomalous. Tara Moore proves my point.
You really should make yourself familiar with the process. Moore case took so long because it went up to the Independent Tribunal which provided the final (so far, it is being appealed by ITIA) verdict that essentially nullified initial ITIA findings. In Swiatek (and Sinner) case that did not need to happen because players did not contest ITIA's verdict (of essentially not guilty at all in Sinner case, and 'not significantly guilty' in Swiatek case). It is expected that a case that involves Independent Tribunal will take way longer. And I mean no one is naive enough to think that Sinner/Swiatek being so well-known, and having an army of people working on their behalf did not make things go faster - of course it did. But not to the degree of marathon vs sprint.
 
I would give Iga a 2 yr ban and Sinner a 4 yr ban. But if we ever find out Iga conspired with the fame hungry French lab professor Alvarez and intentionally contaminated the bottles, then a lifetime ban is appropriate. And I wonder how much Monsieur Jean-Claude Alvarez charges for his 'special' services? Hmm
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
are you serious? Do you want me to also provide their personal addresses, the birthdays, and a list of acquaintances?

Don’t waste your time, now it is more about ‘Western institutions’ and demanding absurd levels of ‘proof’ versus basic levels of science and law.

People are writing without even reading the simple stuff or understanding it and you have a bunch of the nastiest (ex-)people in tennis throwing ****.

WADA is now reconsidering its policy for simple logical reasoning which were anticipated here.
 
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