ATP – WTA > Swiatek and Sinner affairs, Benneteau adds another layer: “I don't think Tennis has a problem with doping. The problem is communication and the difference in treatment around cases”

The suspension of five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek continues to cause a lot of talk, especially since the Sinner affair is still not resolved.

During the show “Les Grandes Gueules du Sport” on RMCJulien Benneteau ranted on the subject by first castigating the communication of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) before asking for more clarity so as not to tarnish the image of tennis.

“I don’t think tennis has a problem with doping. I think the problem is the ITIA, the communication and the difference in treatment around these cases. Does this leave room for doubt? Of course. It's poorly managed. This raises questions. When we ask the question: does tennis have a problem with doping, we can say that some of the top hundred players in the world are doped, that the ATP and the WTA cover up all the positive players, that there is a real organized system. It's impossible! We are monitored all the time. A player who performs in a tournament is controlled. There are between 15 and 20 checks per year. For a traveling individual sport, this is quite significant. There is no organized doping. But the ITIA must establish harmonization in terms of communication and sanctions. What is suspensive or not? There, we have the impression that it depends on the player's ranking. »

Published on Monday December 2, 2024 at 1:14 p.m.