Jim Courier has backed world tennis’ drug testing but has called for better communication in the wake of player criticism
Former Australian Open champion Jim Courier has backed drug testing in tennis but has called on the game’s officials to communicate better in the wake of criticism from Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic.
Tennis expert Jim Courier has implored tennis officials to come clean about the way the sport deals with anti-doping cases after leading players including Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios said there was confusion about the sanctions handed out to world No.1s Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek after they returned positive swabs.
Like a lot of key figures in the tennis world, Courier doesn’t know what to make of the rulings that Sinner and Swiatek did not intentionally dope despite both testing positive to banned substances.
Courier said he believed tennis authorities had treated their cases seriously and fairly but he understood why players and the public were confused at the apparent inconsistency with the penalties.
“One thing that some of the positive tests highlight is just how well governed tennis is in the drug testing department,” Courier told this masthead.
“Those athletes are some of the most tested athletes in the world, both in and out of competition. So I think we should take some comfort that the sport isn’t above penalising their best players when the top players in the world test positive.
“But I think people would like to have a better understanding of how the rules are applied.”
While athletes in other sports often receive lengthy bans for positive tests, even if they prove they ingested banned substances unknowingly, Sinner avoided a ban after testing positive to banned steroid which he said came from a cream used by one of his physiotherapists.
Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive to the banned heart drug TMZ.
Kyrgios described the test results as “disgusting” but Courier said the real problem was the lack of transparency around the cases.
“I have no doubts that the rules are being applied properly by the authorities,” Courier said.
“But it would be better for everyone if the authorities would come forward and speak more clearly about … how the rules were applied, because we don’t want any suspicion of favouritism.
“I don’t think that’s the case but we just want to be a little bit clearer about that. There’s a little bit of ambiguity.”
While anti-doping is lurking as one the biggest talking points of the Australian Open, Courier said he was more interested in how the two big local hopes would contend: Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur.
Kyrgios is hoping to play his first slam since the 2022 US Open and Courier says he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
“He brings excitement. There’s no question that he connects to a young audience and that’s important for the sport in general,” Courier said.
“The energy when he’s playing in the Australian Open and especially on John Cain Arena is magical. There’s just a real buzz about it.
“It’s different. And Nick makes no bones about being different. It is different when he’s around and it’s good for the game to have him around. So I’m glad he’s back, hoping that he’s going to stay healthy and hoping that he’s going to stay committed and make a run.”
Courier is predicting big things for de Minaur, the world No.9.
Australia’s highest ranked player has made the quarterfinals of the last three majors and Courier says it’s only a matter of time before he goes further.
“He’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing. He has started to go to that next level in the grand slams, starting to make some deeper runs into the quarterfinals,” Courier said.
“He wasn’t even healthy in the US Open when he made his run there. So now, having watched him play this week at the United Cup in Sydney, he’s ready. He is super fit. He’s confident and he’s going to be well rested.
“Some years he’s overplayed but it’s all kind of congealing for him now. We’ll see how the draw does, see if it gives him some opportunities. But it’s going to take something special to beat him. There are some special players that can do that but he’s going to be a handful.”
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