Williams Claims Harsher Ban If She Failed Drug Test

American tennis great, Serena Williams, said she would have been banned for 20 years and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like men’s world number one Jannik Sinner did last year.

Sinner accepted a three-month ban in February following an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which challenged an independent tribunal’s decision to clear him of wrongdoing after two positive tests for the anabolic agent clostebol.

“I love the guy, love this game,” Williams, who retired in 2022 after winning 23 Grand Slam trophies, said in an interview. “He’s great for the sport. I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him.’

“(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.”

Reigning Australian Open and US Open champion, Sinner, whose ban will end on May 4th, has always maintained his innocence, though his case raised questions about whether he had received preferential treatment from the authorities.

• Read more: WADA Says Jannik Sinner’s Ban Settlement Not Uncommon
• Read more: Doping Ban Costs Jannik Sinner Laureus Awards Nomination

Iga Swiatek’s case also caused some surprise with the women’s world number two accepting a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.

Former world number one Simona Halep was also banned despite denying knowingly taking the banned drug roxadustat and her four-year suspension was cut to nine months in 2024 after an appeal at sport’s highest court.

Williams also said she took extra care with what she put into her body during her career in case she ingested something that got her in trouble.