Serena Williams on Jannik Sinner doping case: ‘I’d have been banned for 20 years’

Serena Williams said she would have been banned for 20 years and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like Jannik Sinner did last year; watch all the action from the ATP and WTA Tours on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, NOW and the Sky Sports app

Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a backhand return to Alexander Zverev of Germany during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Image:Jannik Sinner is serving a three-month suspension that expires on May 4 after returning two positive tests for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol last year

Serena Williams has claimed she would have been stripped of Grand Slam titles and given a 20-year ban had she failed a drugs test in the manner of Jannik Sinner.

Sinner is serving a three-month suspension that expires on May 4 after returning two positive tests for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol last year.

The 23-year-old from Italy, who remains world No 1 despite his absence, reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after claiming he had been inadvertently contaminated while being massaged by a member of his team.

Serena Williams arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Image:Serena Williams says she would have received a 20-year ban if she failed drug tests like Sinner

WADA accepted the current Australian Open and US Open champion “did not intend to cheat” and that the result was due to “negligence of members of his entourage”.

Williams, who won 23 Grand Slam titles in a 27-year professional career, suggests he has been treated leniently.

“Fantastic personality. I love the guy, I love this game. He’s great for the sport,” she told Time Magazine.

“I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him.