Doping cases involving Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek ‘very complicated’, says Kei Nishikori

Japanese former grand slam finalist set to begin Bank of China Hong Kong Open campaign against Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday

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Kei Nishikori on the practice courts at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 5:00pm, 29 Dec 2024Updated: 7:17pm, 29 Dec 2024

Kei Nishikori said the doping cases involving high-profile pair Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek were “very complicated” and only the two players “know what’s happened”.

On Saturday, the outspoken Nick Kyrgios lashed out at Sinner and Swiatek, who both tested positive for banned substances in 2024.

World No 1 Sinner, this year’s Australian Open and US Open champion, twice tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March. The Italian was cleared of wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. He could still be banned, nonetheless, after an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency triggered a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing, which will not be held before February 12.

Five-time women’s grand slam champion Swiatek served a one-month ban after testing positive for the heart medication trimetazidine in August, when she was world No 1.

Preparing to return from an 18-month injury lay-off at the Brisbane International, Kyrgios had said: “Two world No 1s both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it but no one wants to speak about it – is awful.”

US Open champion Jannik Sinner has so far avoided a ban after failing two doping tests. Photo: Xinhua

The 2014 US Open finalist Nishikori, who is set to begin his Bank of China Hong Kong Open campaign against world No 56 Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday, was less forceful, but intimated it was every player’s responsibility to ensure they do not fall foul of doping rules.