Can We Admit System is Cooked?

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, May 2, 2025
Photo credit: Graham Denholm/Getty

There’s a double standard in doping punishments, says Nick Kyrgios.

Seeing Australian compatriot Max Purcell suspended for 18 months for admitting to exceeding intravenous infusions of vitamins over 500 milliliters reinforces Kyrgios’ belief that tennis’ anti-doping system is “cooked.”

Reigning US Open doubles champion Purcell accepted an 18-month suspension after acknowledging a violation of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program.The 27-year-old Purcell admitted to breaching Article 2.2 of the TADP (use of a Prohibited Method) by receiving intravenous infusions of over 500 milliliters on December 16 and 20th of 2023.

The limit under the World Anti-Doping Code and TADP is 100 milliliters in a 12-hour period.

After serving his suspension, Purcell will be eligible to return to the pro circuit on June 12th, 2026. Purcell will also forfeit about $200,000 in prize money.

In a social media post, Krygios wrote: “So honest feelings about how ridiculous Purcell’s ban is? Vitamins? Can we justify this? Or can we just admit now that the whole system is cooked?”

So honest feelings about how ridiculous Purcell’s ban is? Vitamins? Can we justify this? Or can we just admit now that the whole system is cooked 😂

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) April 30, 2025

Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios has publicly called out what he says is a double standard in doping cases pointing to the fact world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will complete his three-month suspension this weekend, while others, including former No. 1 Simona Halep, were given harsher punishments. Sinner was permitted to play last season while appealing his doping case whereas Halep was not permitted to play until she won a reduced sentence upon appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Two-time Australian Open champion Sinner is serving a three-month suspension that will ban him from tennis from February 9-May 4th to settle the case, the World Anti-Doping Agency announced in February.

WADA had appealed Sinner’s case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport with the Italian Davis Cup hero facing the prospect of a one year or more suspension if the appeal was successful.

Last March, Sinner twice tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol in “low levels” the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced in August days before the start of the US Open.

Two-time Australian Open champion Sinner was not suspended and permitted to play because an independent tribunal ruled he was at “no fault” for the steroid contamination in his system. The three-month suspension means Sinner will not miss a major as he chases the calendar Grand Slam.

Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic called Sinner’s case “strange” and said most players he’s talked to do not believe the resolution was fair.

“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,” Djokovic told the media in Doha in February. “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 favoritism.”

Pointing to the fact both Simona Halep and Britain’s Tara Moore were hit with harsher sentences in their doping cases, Djokovic said many players concur with Kyrgios and see a double standard in the system.

“Simona Halep and Tara Moore and some other players that are maybe less known that have been struggling to resolve their cases for years, or have gotten the ban for years,” Djokovic said.

Reigning US Open champion Sinner has repeatedly denied cheating.

“This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Sinner said. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love.

“On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”

In a new interview with Italian public Television Network TG1, Sinner said his critics have every right to voice their views—and suggested his only response will come on court.

“Everyone is free to say what they want, but I know what happened and what I had to go through,” Sinner said. “I am not interested in responding to those who attacked me.

“I miss the competition, I’m very happy that the ban on training is over and I’m ready to play again.”