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'FRUSTRATED' DJOKOVIC WANTS 'TRANSPARENCY' TO ENSURE A CLEAN SPORT



Former world No.1 Novak Djokovic insists he will "keep on believing in a clean sport" as questions are still yet to be clarified for multiple doping cases.


Before this year's US Open, it was revealed that two-time major winner Jannik Sinner had tested positive twice for Clostebol after receiving a massage from his physio at Indian Wells — serving a short suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) without the public knowing.


Iga Świątek, former world No.1 and five-time Grand Slam champion, tested positive for trimetazidine, accepting a one-month suspension.


Australia's Max Purcell has also been caught up in a doping saga, having come forward to tennis authorities about violating Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program.


His compatriot, Nick Kyrgios, once again spoke strongly about tennis' handling of multiple doping cases, describing it as "disgusting for our sport".


Having arrived in Brisbane ahead of the highly-anticipated ATP 250 event, Djokovic shared his thoughts on the controversial topic.


"It's not a good image and not a good look for our sport," Djokovic told the media. "Of course, you don't want to see that because I believe in the last 20-plus years that I've been playing on the professional tour, that we've been one of the cleanest sports, at least I believe we are or we have been.


"I will keep on believing in a clean sport, and I'm just questioning the way the system works and why certain players are not treated the same [as] the other players.


"The issue is the inconsistency [and] the transparency. We've been kept in the dark [about] Jannik's case, and I'm not questioning whether he took the banned substance intentionally or not.


"I believe in a clean sport. I believe that the player will do everything possible to be playing fair.


"I've known Jannik since he was very young, so he doesn't strike me as somebody that would do such a thing.


"But I've been really frustrated as most of the other players to see that we've been kept in the dark for five months."


Djokovic will commence the new 2025 season by partnering Nick Kyrgios in doubles action tomorrow night at Pat Rafter Arena, before opening his singles account against Australia's Rinky Hijikata.



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