Nick Kyrgios takes savage swipe at Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek – calling their doping scandals ‘disgusting’

Nick Kyrgios has launched a vicious attack on tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for breaching the sport’s anti-doping programme, labeling their behavior as ‘disgusting to our sport’.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has filed charges against world No. 1 Sinner and former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek for violations.

Sinner tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March, but avoided a ban because the ITIA ruled he was not to blame.

Swiatek also managed to accept a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.

‘Two number 1s in the world both being fined for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a terrible sight,” Kyrgios said at his Brisbane International press conference.

“Tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it, it’s terrible.”

Sinner tested positive twice for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March

Kyrgios, 29, has not played tournament tennis since June 2023 due to wrist and knee injuries. He was asked about his motivation for speaking out about the Sinner and Swiatek situations.

“Someone like me… I would never even try to dope in this sport in my entire life,” he said.

‘Especially when I suffer an injury like I experienced, there are obviously things that can speed up healing, help me get back to the top level and help my recovery.

“There are so many things that are forbidden in our sport that I could have done to come back faster… (but) that’s just not who I am. I’m always against that.

“So when people say I’m disrespectful to the sport, I think someone like that who tried to cheat the process, and actually didn’t do it completely on his own merit, is disrespectful in my opinion.

“I have to be open about it because I don’t think there are enough people talking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug.”

Sinner had successfully argued that his physiotherapist had accidentally infected him during treatment with clostebol, which had been transmitted through a cut on his own hand.

Kyrgios asked questions about what happened next.

Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine

Kyrgios says he will not ‘keep quiet’ about doping problems in tennis

“I (pay) my team hundreds and thousands of dollars to be the professionals that they are, to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Kyrgios said.

“So they knew it was happening. Why did they wait five to six months to do something about it? He kept his team for five months… that doesn’t make sense.

‘I would be furious. If my physical therapist infected me, put me in this position, I would probably never talk to that man again. He had the man on his team for five months and acted as if nothing had happened.”

Kyrgios has been criticized for his outspoken behavior but said he would not change on issues close to his heart.

“For a kid who grew up playing tennis, I enjoyed the competition, I enjoyed playing,” he said.

“I can get emotional, I can throw a racket, but that’s nothing compared to cheating and taking performance-enhancing drugs. That’s ridiculous in my opinion. I’m not going to keep quiet about it.’

Meanwhile, speaking ahead of her United Cup campaign in Sydney on Saturday, Swiatek said she was “very grateful” she has not been subjected to intense criticism.

“The reaction in Poland – because this is mainly what I read – has been quite supportive,” she said.

Kyrgios has not played tournament tennis since June 2023 due to wrist and knee injuries

“I really appreciate that because even when I missed the Chinese swing and no one knew why it wasn’t that easy.

“After information about my case came out, I was afraid that most people would turn their backs on me, but I felt the support and that’s great.”

Swiatek also does not expect WADA to appeal her case – and had a message for those who question her integrity.

“Obviously there’s going to be some negative comments and you’re not going to avoid that,” she said.

“That’s something that will always haunt us, no matter what.”