Novak Djokovic breaks silence on Jannik Sinner punishment that he 'finds strange'

Novak Djokovic has had his say over Jannik Sinner.

Novak Djokovic has broken his silence on the "strange" three-month suspension handed out to world No.1 Jannik Sinner. The Serbian has accused the authorities of affording the Italian player special treatment due to his status in the game, after it was announced he had agreed a deal with WADA over his sanction. Having previously protested his innocence, Sinner has since been vociferously criticised by fellow players. The deal means his ban will expire in time for the French Open in May, and Djokovic has joined a growing list of critics over the way the saga has been handled.

Currently out in Doha for the Dubai Open, he said: "Jannik will have a three-month suspension due to some mistakes and negligence of some members of his team, who are working on the tour. "This is also something that I personally and many other players find strange. I have spoken to several players in the locker room, not only in the last few days but also in the months before. "Most of them are not satisfied with how the whole process has gone and do not think it was fair. Many believe that there was favouritism." Djokovic also alleged that top players were able to "influence the outcome" of doping proceedings. And he expressed sympathy for others who received longer bans for doping violations.

Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open before finalising his ban.

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"We have seen the cases of Simona Halep, Tara Moore, and other players who are perhaps less well-known, who have struggled for years to resolve their cases or who have been suspended for a long time," he said. "I think it is really time to do something and address the system, because it is clear that the structure is not working like this." Last August, an independent tribunal ruled Sinner had committed two anti-doping rule violations after testing positive for clostebol at Indian Wells in March. However, the tribunal accepted his explanation that it had entered his body via massages from his physiotherapist, who had used a treatment which contained the substance on his own hands.

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