Serena Williams: I’d Be Banned for 20 Years If I Tested Positive Like Sinner
Tennis legend Serena Williams has ignited debate over alleged double standards in the sport’s treatment of doping violations, saying she would have been hit with a 20-year ban and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like Jannik Sinner.
Speaking to Time Magazine, Williams reacted strongly to the case involving the men’s world number one, who accepted a three-month ban in February after testing positive twice in 2023 for the anabolic agent clostebol.
“I love the guy, love this game,” said the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
“But if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.”
Sinner’s Case Sparks Questions Over Equal Treatment
Jannik Sinner, who won both the Australian Open and US Open in 2024, maintained his innocence throughout the process. Though initially cleared by an independent tribunal, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenged that verdict. A settlement followed, and Sinner accepted a retroactive three-month suspension that ends on May 4, 2025.
Critics say the resolution has raised questions about preferential treatment in how doping cases are handled, particularly when comparing male and female athletes.
Neither Sinner’s camp nor WADA has issued public statements in response to Williams’ comments at the time of publication.
Williams: “I Took Extra Care My Whole Career”
Williams, who retired in 2022 as the most decorated player in the Open Era after winning 23 Grand Slams, said she was always hyper-vigilant about what went into her body to avoid accidental ingestion of banned substances.
“I took extra care with what I put in my body during my career,” she said.
“One mistake and they’d say I was cheating. I couldn’t afford to take chances.”
Her remarks tap into a broader conversation around gender equity and racial bias in professional sports regulation, especially when disciplinary measures are handed out.
Other Controversial Cases: Swiatek and Halep
Sinner isn’t the only high-profile player caught in recent doping storms. Women’s world number two Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November 2024 after testing positive for trimetazidine, a substance often linked to performance enhancement.
Meanwhile, Simona Halep, a former world number one, was initially handed a four-year ban for testing positive for roxadustat, despite maintaining her innocence. Her suspension was later reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after appeal.
These examples highlight growing concerns about inconsistency and fairness in the enforcement of anti-doping rules across genders and ranking tiers.
Serena’s Statement Reignites Conversation in Sports
Williams’ frank remarks have already stirred widespread commentary among fans and fellow athletes alike. While she emphasized her respect for Sinner’s talent and contribution to the sport, she made it clear that the reaction to her hypothetically testing positive would have been far more severe.
“Men’s tennis needs him,” Williams acknowledged.
“But let’s not pretend the rules would’ve been the same for me.”
As sports authorities and institutions continue grappling with equality and transparency, Williams’ voice once again forces the tennis world to confront uncomfortable truths.
