Tennis star Nick Kyrgios slammed players who were suspended for the season for doping violations on Saturday as the Brisbane International began.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accused Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek of failing doping tests. The ITIA determined Sinner was not guilty after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March. Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for trimetazidine.
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FILE – Nick Kyrgios of the Eagles returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of the Falcons during a match on Day 3 of the World Tennis League at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
Both Sinner and Swiatek were number one in the men’s and women’s sports, respectively.
Kyrgios said the violations were “repugnant to our sport.”
“Two world number ones convicted of doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible sight,” the Australian star said. “The integrity of tennis right now and everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it, it’s horrible.”
He went on to say that he would never attempt to use a banned substance.
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Iga Swiatek of Team Poland celebrates victory against Irina-Camelia Bego of Team Romania during the women’s singles first round on the first day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Roland Garros on July 27. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“Especially going through an injury like I did, obviously there are things that could speed up the healing, help me get back to the top level, help my recovery,” he said.
“There are so many things that are prohibited in our sport that I could have done to recover faster… (but) that’s not who I am. I’m always against that.”
Kyrgios questioned why officials did not reveal Sinner’s failed test sooner if he was going to be acquitted anyway. The Italian star argued that his physiotherapist accidentally contaminated him during treatment with clostebol.
Kyrios has not played in a tournament since June 2023 due to knee problems.
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts after scoring a point against Taylor Fritz of the United States during the men’s singles final of the US Open tennis championship, Sunday, Sept. 8, in New York. 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
He teamed with Novak Djokovic in the doubles tournament at the Brisbane International and has a matchup in the singles tournament against Frenchman Giovanni Perricard.
