Nick Kyrgios has strongly criticized the state of tennis after world No. 2 Iga Swiatek received a one-month suspension for testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ). Swiatek, the former world No. 1, joins ATP star Jannik Sinner, who is also under scrutiny for a doping-related investigation this year.
Kyrgios shared a post by Zimbabwean player Ben Lock, who highlighted the leniency of Swiatek’s punishment, calling it “wild” for two world No. 1s to fail drug tests in the same year. Kyrgios added his own take, declaring, “Our sport is cooked.”
He also mocked the defense used in Swiatek’s case, referencing how professionals at the highest level can now claim ignorance, saying: “The excuse that we can all use is that we didn’t know.”
Sinner was previously cleared of severe violations by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed for a suspension of up to one year. The overlapping doping controversies have further fueled concerns about the sport’s integrity, with Kyrgios at the forefront of the public criticism.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Currently the world no.470, Kyrgios played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he capitulated to world no.405 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
This season the Australian owns an overall 0-1 win-loss record.
Nick Kyrgios |
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