Novak Djokovic Says Jannik Sinner’s Steroid Ban Will “Cloud” Him

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Novak Djokovic isn’t sugarcoating what he thought of Jannik Sinner’s doping scandal. 

Over a year after the champion of the 2025 Vienna Open tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol and received a three-month suspension, another tennis player has spoken out about the complicated situation.

The current controversy reminded Djokovic of his own experience in 2022, when he was sent home from Australia because he wouldn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19.

He believes the controversy surrounding his actions will follow him throughout his career, much like the COVID-19 pandemic has shadowed him. While the intensity may lessen over time, he doesn’t think it will ever fully go away, and a segment of people will always attempt to revisit it. He shared this during an interview with Piers Morgan on November 11th.

Djokovic said that despite finding Jannik Sinner to be “very genuine” in their interactions, the details surrounding the doping allegations against the 24-year-old raised significant concerns.

Morgan pointed out that a less famous player would likely face a lifetime ban for the same offense, and Djokovic agreed. This was in contrast to Jannik Sinner, who only received a three-month suspension – a period that fell outside the main competitive season.

He found the situation strange, pointing to the lack of clear information, the inconsistencies in how things were done, and the convenient timing of the ban – which allowed the player to still compete in major tournaments. He strongly disapproved of how the case was managed, noting that several other players, both men and women, had spoken out in the media about receiving more favorable treatment in similar circumstances.

The 38-year-old stated that, although he believes the four-time Grand Slam champion didn’t intentionally violate the rules, the champion is still accountable for the positive test result.

As a longtime fan, it really bothered me when Novak said that. He’s right – it just doesn’t seem fair when you see someone else get seriously punished for something, then see a similar action go relatively unaddressed. It feels like a double standard, and honestly, it’s frustrating to watch as a supporter.

Despite their own match, the Serbian player readily acknowledged how well Sinner has been playing lately.

He feels sympathy for how the athlete has dealt with constant media scrutiny. Despite the ongoing challenges, the athlete continues to perform at a very high level, consistently winning major championships.

TopMob News has contacted Sinner’s team for a response to Djokovic’s statements, but they haven’t received one yet.

After agreeing to his three-month ban, Sinner indicated he wanted to move forward in a statement. 

In an August 2024 Instagram post, Sinner stated he was moving past a difficult situation. He added that he remains committed to following all rules of the anti-doping program and has a dedicated team helping him ensure full compliance.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the news closely, and the Jannik Sinner situation was just one of several athlete controversies this year that really grabbed headlines. If you’re curious about how other athletes have handled tough moments and the biggest issues that emerged from the 2024 Paris Olympics, keep reading to get the full story.

Following the bronze medal win by an American gymnast in the women’s floor exercise final, Romania’s Gymnastics Federation protested to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The protest was filed by Romanian gymnasts Ana Maria Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.

The Romanian team protested that a request made by Chile’s coach to increase the athlete’s score by 0.1 points should have been denied. They argued the request was submitted four seconds after the one-minute deadline.

The court decided to restore the U.S. athlete’s original score of 13.666. The International Gymnastics Federation then agreed with this decision and adjusted the rankings, placing Barbosu third.

The International Olympic Committee stated they will award the bronze medal to Ana Barbosu of Romania. They are coordinating with the Romanian Olympic Committee about a ceremony to present the medal and with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to arrange for the return of the original bronze medal.

The  U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee says it plans to appeal the decision.

The Canadian women’s soccer team’s head coach, Bev Priestman, was removed from her position during the 2024 Olympics after accusations that her staff used drones to secretly observe the New Zealand team before a game. Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue explained on July 25th that new information had surfaced about previous drone use against opponents, leading to Priestman’s suspension for the remainder of the Games and until an independent investigation is completed. Priestman issued an apology, expressing her devastation for the players and taking responsibility for the situation. She emphasized the team’s commitment to sportsmanship and pledged full cooperation with the investigation, stating that the gold-medal-winning team deeply values integrity.

During the Opening Ceremony on July 26th, athletes from South Korea were mistakenly announced as being from North Korea in both French and English. South Korea is officially known as the Republic of Korea, while North Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an apology on July 27th for the error. IOC President Thomas Bach also personally apologized to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who explained that the mistake had caused significant shock and embarrassment among the South Korean people. An IOC spokesperson described the incident as a regrettable “operational mistake.”

The order of countries in the parade is alphabetical based on the host country’s language, with Greece always leading and the host nation going last. South Korea was the 48th country in the parade, while North Korea was 153rd.

British commentator Bob Ballard was removed from Eurostar’s Olympic coverage after making a sexist remark following the Australian women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay win, featuring swimmers Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris. He said, “Well, the women just finishing off…you know what women are like…hanging around, doing their makeup.” His co-commentator, Lizzie Simmonds, immediately called the comment “outrageous.” Eurostar deemed the remark “inappropriate” and removed Ballard from further coverage, effective immediately. Ballard quickly apologized, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that he never intended to offend anyone and is a strong supporter of women’s sports.

Rumors that the pool at the La Defense Arena was too shallow and slowing down swimmers were dismissed by the athletes themselves. After initial concerns about a lack of record-breaking times, swimmers quickly adjusted and began to perform well.

“I think it’s totally a myth,” said Regan Smith of Team USA, who won five medals. She explained that people initially focused on the lack of new records and wondered if the pool depth was the issue. “But as the competition continued, people got used to it and more comfortable, and then we started seeing some really fast times.”

Gretchen Walsh, who earned four medals, added that the immense pressure of the Olympics can affect performance. “Much of what the Olympics is… makes any pool feel kind of slow. You have so much pressure on yourself that it’s hard to be at your 100 percent best.”

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how easily things can unravel, and unfortunately, that happened for Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira at the Olympics. She was sent home after leaving the Olympic Village with her teammate and boyfriend, Gabriel Santos, without getting permission. It all stemmed from a disagreement with a decision made by the swimming team about the relay race – apparently, she reacted strongly and wasn’t respectful of the process. She shared her side in a video, saying she was upset but optimistic that things would eventually work out. It’s a tough reminder that even at the highest level, clear communication and respectful dialogue are crucial – and when they break down, dreams can be derailed.

The Paraguayan Olympic Committee asked swimmer Luana Alonso to leave the Games, stating she had disrupted the team environment. They said she followed their instructions and voluntarily left the Athletes’ Village. Alonso, a student at Southern Methodist University, responded on Instagram, denying reports that she was removed or expelled. She stated she wouldn’t allow false information to spread, but didn’t want to make a full statement.

Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner, both gymnasts on the U.S. Olympic team, were involved in a public disagreement. Skinner had previously criticized the skill level and work ethic of the team selected for Paris in a now-deleted video, saying the talent wasn’t what it used to be and suggesting some gymnasts didn’t work hard enough. After the team won gold in Paris, Biles posted a photo with the caption “Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions,” which seemed to be a response to Skinner’s earlier comments. Skinner later explained she hadn’t expressed her thoughts well, but also said the online harassment she and her family received as a result of the disagreement with Biles had become excessive. She asked Biles to encourage her followers to stop the cyberbullying.

Neither Simone Biles nor Suni Lee earned a medal on the balance beam at this year’s competition after both fell during their routines. Biles commented on the unusual silence during the event in Paris, describing it as “weird and awkward.” She explained that the gymnasts had repeatedly requested music or background noise, but their requests weren’t met.

The International Gymnastics Federation defended the quiet atmosphere, stating it was intentional as part of the event’s presentation. Lee agreed that the pressure was intense, adding that the silence made her feel particularly isolated and aware of her own performance. She even joked about wondering if the photographers could hear her breathing, highlighting how the lack of noise amplified the stress.

Jordan Chiles appeared to miss out on a medal after scoring 13.666 on her floor exercise, placing her behind Romania’s Ana Barbosu who had a score of 13.700. However, Team USA questioned Chiles’ score, and after a review, the judges increased her starting value by a tenth of a point, raising her final score to 13.766. This change awarded Chiles the bronze medal, and Barbosu, who had already begun celebrating with her country’s flag, left the arena upset. Barbosu later shared a video of her performance and thanked everyone for their support throughout the competition.

Changes to medal results haven’t just happened in gymnastics. Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon was initially disqualified from the women’s 5,000 meters race on August 5th after officials thought she interfered with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, costing her a second-place finish. Olympic commentator Kara Goucher, who competed in two Olympics herself, said she’d never seen anything like it in a final that lasted so long, describing a prolonged struggle with elbows and visible frustration between the runners.

Kipyegon didn’t learn her silver medal was restored until the early hours of August 6th. The Olympic Jury of Appeal decided that while there was contact between Kipyegon and Tsegay, it wasn’t enough to justify disqualification. As a result, Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, who had briefly moved into bronze position due to the disqualification, was moved back to fourth place.

Two swimmers saw their Olympic medal hopes disappear when they unintentionally violated the rules during their races, not realizing they had made a mistake until after they finished.

Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank initially finished first in the 200-meter backstroke, but was disqualified because he stayed underwater for more than the allowed 15 meters after the start. He shared on Instagram that while he’s always his own toughest critic, he’s proud of his condition leading up to the games and will use this as motivation to improve.

Alex Walsh also lost a bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley due to a technical error. During the backstroke-to-breaststroke transition, she began her turn too early, before touching the wall, which is against the rules.

Walsh expressed gratitude for the support she received and shared on Instagram that despite the disqualification, the Olympics were a fulfilling experience she would always cherish, believing everything happens for a reason and she’s excited about her future in the sport.

Despite a $1.53 billion investment to clean up the Seine River in Paris, concerns remained about water quality leading up to the Olympics, specifically whether it was safe for swimming events like the triathlon and 10km marathon. Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the river in July and declared it safe, but problems arose after the Games began.

Training swims for triathletes were canceled in late July due to poor water quality following heavy rainfall during the Opening Ceremony. The men’s triathlon was postponed and held after the women’s event, as bacteria levels were initially too high. While tests on the day of the triathlons showed water quality met European Union standards, concerns resurfaced when two athletes who competed in the event later became ill (though a connection to the Seine hasn’t been confirmed).

The 10km marathons are still planned for August 8th and 9th, but practice swims were canceled on August 6th after bacteria levels again exceeded safe limits.

Australian field hockey player Tom Craig has apologized publicly after he was arrested in Paris for trying to purchase cocaine. The arrest happened two days after his team lost to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

I was really upset to hear what happened, and he immediately apologized in a press conference. He made it clear he takes full responsibility for his actions and stressed they absolutely don’t represent the beliefs of his family, teammates, friends, the sport itself, or the entire Australian Olympic team. He said he’s let everyone down and genuinely feels terrible about it, and honestly, it was a really heartfelt apology.

An Australian Olympic Committee representative described Tom as a good person who unfortunately made a bad choice. While the team will offer him support if he needs it, they have immediately revoked all of his remaining Olympic benefits.

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2025-11-12 23:48