Nick Kyrgios is one of many who have been left enraged over the handling of Jannik Sinner's "convenient" three-month suspension, described as a "sad day for tennis".
Despite recent reports suggesting Sinner would learn his fate in April, it was confirmed that the Italian world No.1 accepted a three-month ban from February 9 until May 4.
Part of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) statement read: "Under the code and by virtue of Cas precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage's negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome."
Players and fans have always questioned transparency, integrity, and fairness surrounding the delicate issue, with WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) heavily scrutinised.
But Australia's Nick Kyrgios has always remained the most outspoken about Sinner's case, and the 29-year-old didn't hold back after learning about the three-month punishment.
"So WADA come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously Sinner's team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist," he wrote on X.
In a separate post shortly afterwards, he stated: "I know a lot of players that are feeling the same way at the moment so looking to hold live spaces next week so we can talk about it - stay tuned for exact time."
Since the 2022 US Open, Kyrgios has suffered from multiple injuries, including serious wrist and knee injuries that required respective surgeries.
He touched on those dark moments as a reminder of what he has endured, hoping that kids compete "the right way".
"To the future generation of tennis players - after today you can dope, just 'without knowing'.... Test positive, play through all the investigation, then settle on a convenient 3 month ban, not get stripped of any money or titles and carry on," he posted on his Instagram story.
"Sad day for me - someone who has played this sport since I was 7 years old. Battled injury after injury and have given a s**t load to this sport. I pray that kids that play this sport do it the right way."
Less than 12 hours after the news broke, Kyrgios posted another message on X, writing: “So you (Sinner) were innocent and we were getting fed you were innocent but now you are suspended from playing the sport? Make it make sense. I’ve got multiple players in my DM’s on how putrid this is. Even Grand Slam champions. Putrid.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is another high-profile name to voice his opinion, declaring he is now questioning tennis' integrity.
The next tournament Sinner is eligible to enter is the Rome Masters, scheduled to be held on May 7, meaning he won't miss any Grand Slams throughout the year.
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