The crowning of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek as Wimbledon champions has rekindled controversy surrounding doping in tennis, especially since both players had previously tested positive for banned substances in 2024.
Swiatek received a one-month suspension after proving that a sleep aid she used was unknowingly contaminated. Sinner’s case involved more complexity. He tested positive after a team member used a spray on a finger injury that contained an anabolic steroid. It was later claimed the substance transferred during a massage. Initially facing a one-year ban, Sinner reached an agreement with WADA and served a reduced three-month suspension, carefully timed to avoid missing any major tournaments.
Despite their impressive performances Swiatek’s strong comeback and Sinner’s dramatic Wimbledon win over Carlos Alcaraz some critics, including ex-players and journalists, argued their victories cast a shadow over the sport.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, however, defended the two champions. In an Instagram post, he praised Sinner and his team, particularly coach Darren Cahill, and addressed the criticism. Cash emphasized that both athletes were victims of contamination, not intentional doping, and stressed that the banned substances were not performance-enhancing.
He urged skeptics to “do their homework” before spreading misinformation and questioned the logic of doubting agencies like WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Unit, who thoroughly investigate such cases.
Cash concluded by calling on fans to recognize Swiatek and Sinner for their talent, mental strength, and determination, rather than dismiss their success out of bias or disappointment over other players’ losses.
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