Tennis legend Serena Williams has ignited a fierce conversation in the sports world after claiming that if she had committed the same doping offense as men’s world number one Jannik Sinner, she would have faced a 20-year ban and potentially had her Grand Slam titles stripped.
Speaking in an interview with Time, the 23-time Grand Slam champion pointed out the stark double standards she believes exist in the sport, suggesting she would have been treated far more harshly than her male counterpart. “Let’s be real,” Williams said. “Had I done something similar, I would’ve faced a 20-year penalty. Grand Slam titles? Gone.”
Sinner, 23, tested positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in 2024 and accepted a three-month suspension after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Italian tennis star, who won the Australian Open in January, is set to return just in time for the Italian Open in May, ahead of the French Open.
The contrast in treatment didn’t go unnoticed by Williams, who recalled being the most tested American athlete in 2018. That year, a Deadspin report revealed she had been tested five times by the US Anti-Doping Agency by mid-year—more than double that of any other top American athlete.
“I genuinely admire Sinner and his game. He’s great for tennis,” Williams added. “But after everything I’ve been through, I can’t help but notice the difference. If this had been me, I’d be behind bars by now.”
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The tennis icon also expressed empathy for her former rival Maria Sharapova, who received a 15-month ban in 2016 after testing positive for a newly banned substance. “Oddly, I can’t get Maria out of my thoughts during all this. I truly feel for her,” she said.
As Sinner prepares for his comeback, critics have raised eyebrows over the leniency of his punishment. Former British number one Tim Henman called it “too convenient,” while outspoken Australian Nick Kyrgios slammed the lack of fairness in tennis. Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka went even further, declaring he “no longer believes in pure sports.”
In response to the backlash, ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse insisted the doping process remains consistent for all athletes, regardless of their fame or ranking. Sinner’s ban could have lasted up to four years, but investigators accepted that his physiotherapist accidentally exposed him to the banned drug.
Now 43, Serena Williams officially stepped away from professional tennis in 2022 after her final appearance at the US Open. Though she admits she still misses the game deeply, she is focused on family life and her growing business ventures, especially after welcoming her second daughter in 2023.
“I truly miss it,” she confessed. “If I wasn’t healthy, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way. But I am. I’ve given everything to tennis. And while I’d love to give more, it’s also exciting to explore new parts of life. I’m at peace.”
