Jessica Pegula blasted the anti-doping process in tennis as “completely broken” as the world No. 5 claims it simply cannot be trusted.
For months, there had been a lot of talk about what would happen during Jannik Sinner’s CAS hearing in April.
But then this past weekend, the WADA announced that they withdrew their appeal in the ITIA’s ruling after they reached a settlement with the Italian on a three-month ban.
It didn’t take long before the critics of the anti-doping authorities started using that as an argument that not every player gets the same treatment.
In late 2024, it was also revealed that Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month after previously serving a provisional suspension in silence after a failed doping test.
Asked about the doping investigations in tennis, Pegula told Reem Abulleil in Dubai: “The process just seems to be completely like not a process,”
“It seems to just kind of be whatever decisions and factors they take into consideration, and they just kind of make up their own ruling,” the American added.
“I don’t really understand how that’s fair for athletes, how it’s fair for players when there’s just so much inconsistency and you have no idea.”
Jessica Pegula: “If you’re clean or not, the process is completely broken.”https://t.co/yzyRV6Gujc pic.twitter.com/hC8RwckTvM
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 16, 2025
Pegula: Clean or not, the system is completely broken… I have zero trust in the process
In her message, the world No. 5 pretty much said that there is no way to know what happens with your doping case or what to expect because every case seems to be treated differently.
“If you’re clean or not, the process is completely broken,” the 2024 US Open runner-up said.
“I think it needs to be seriously looked at and considered.
“I feel like they have so much power to ruin someone’s career, as well. I think there needs to be something done about that because it just seems really unfair.
“I don’t think any of the players trust the process at all right now. Zero. It’s just a horrible look for the sport.”
Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Pegula had a first-round bye in Dubai and will start her campaign by meeting Liudmila Samsonova.
Tennis World USA