‘Disgusting’: Storm erupts over ‘joke’ ban handed to Aussie
Nick Kyrgios has come out blasting as tennis was again dragged into the mud by a “horrifically handled” doping scandal.
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Nick Kyrgios has hit out at “disgusting” doping scandals that have rocked tennis as a storm builds around Aussie doubles champ Max Purcell.
Kyrgios on Saturday took another swipe at ATP Tour world No. 1 Jannik Sinner over the Italian’s doping rule breach — and the controversial three-month ban he was gifted.
Kyrgios’ comments ahead of his return to tennis at the Brisbane International came after Aussie star Jordan Thompson earlier criticised tennis’ doping authorities for the ban his doubles partner, Purcell, received.
Thompson on Saturday said Purcell’s provisional punishment was a “joke” after his Davis Cup teammate volunteered information which led to him accepting a ban earlier this month.
Purcell was found to have breached the rules around “use of a Prohibited Method”.
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Specifically, the reigning US Open doubles champion “unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100ml”, according to his own social media post.
Kyrgios, however, continued to argue against the short-term bans handed down in recent cases — headlined by the scandals surrounding Sinner and former women’s world number one Iga Swiatek.
Sinner twice tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol in March. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted his argument that the steroid entered his system due to contamination from his physiotherapist and opted not to suspend him.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently appealed the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a verdict pending.
Kyrgios has been scathing about the ITIA decision in the past and didn’t hold back in a press conference ahead of his return to the game at the Brisbane International after an 18-month injury lay-off.
“Tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it — it’s awful,” said the Australian.
“It’s actually awful and it’s not okay. I know that people don’t like it when I just speak out about things, be honest about things.
“For a kid that grew up playing tennis, I enjoyed the competition, I enjoyed playing.
“I can get emotional, I can throw a racquet, but that’s nothing compared to cheating and taking performance-enhancing drugs.”
Asked whether he was accusing Sinner of cheating, Kyrgios told journalists to look at the facts.
“He did fail two doping tests at separate times, as well,” Kyrgios said.
“It wasn’t one after the other — they were a different time frame, so I mean, if you think that that’s the way that it got in his system, if that’s how you think it’s happened, then.
“But, I mean, if he didn’t do anything wrong, then why did they take his prize money and points away? Obviously they found something wrong with it.”
Kyrgios said the sport’s image has been tarnished as a result of the Sinner and Swiatek suspension.
The ITIA accepted that Swiatek’s violation was not intentional and she received only a one-month ban.
“I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport,” he said.
“Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look.”
Kyrgios also showed some support for Purcell, noting the differences in the Wimbledon doubles champions’ case.
“There’s not fair treatment for every single player,” Kyrgios said, as reported by Code Sports.
“We’ve seen that with Max Purcell. The reason that’s different is because he went to the authorities first, he admitted he had done something that was on the prohibited (method) list.
“That’s how it should be, rather than all this sweeping under the rug, not knowing, question marks.”
Purcell is expected to miss the Australian summer swing with Thompson, who is on track to be seeded in singles for the Australian Open, lashing out ahead of a lead-up tournament in Brisbane.
“It wasn’t great news for me and Maxy – and especially Max. I think it’s a bit of a joke, but there’s not a lot I can do about it,” Thompson said on Saturday.
“I don’t think he’s quite happy, and neither am I, to be honest.
“Obviously, he took too much in an IV bag, but to get suspended for that, when there are other people who are doing far worse and sometimes just get a slap on the wrist, a bit of a joke, I think.
“But it’s not up to me to decide what happens.
“When you look at guys testing positive, then you have Max taking too much in an IV bag, it’s a head-scratcher.”
Thompson further explained: “It’s a stitch-up. I mean, the guy took too much saltwater in an IV bag in Bali.
“He was unwell, that’s why he went there. He went to the hospital.
“I have no good words for it. It’s a joke. I mean, guys are testing positive (for) performance enhancers and he’s (Purcell) gone out and taken too much saltwater (and) they’ve suspended him.
“Take of that what you will. Anyone looking at it goes, ‘it’s so unfair’.”
Purcell said last week he was devastated by the development.
“I was fully convinced that I had done everything to ensure that I had followed the WADA regulations and methods,” he shared on Instagram.
“But the records show that the IV was over that 100ml limit, even though I told the medical clinic that I was a professional athlete and needed the IV to be below 100ml.
“This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe.
“I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me. I look forward to being back on the court soon.”
Thompson will begin his Brisbane International campaign against Italian Matteo Berrettini, with Kyrgios returning to the court against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard.
Kyrgios has been out of the sport since suffering knee and wrist injuries at the 2022 US Open.
Kyrgios has had wrist reconstruction and said while it was a success, he was unsure how the wrist would cope with tournament play.
“I’m just not going to take anything for granted,” he said.
“I’m going to go out there and play. It’s literally going to be a day-by-day symptomatic injury moving forward.
“If I play a long match, jam it the right way, who knows how it’s going to pull up the next day. That’s the type of injury it is.”
— with AFP
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Originally published as ‘Disgusting’: Storm erupts over ‘joke’ ban handed to Aussie
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