- Serena Williams says she would’ve been banned for 20 years for a doping case like Jannik Sinner’s.
- She highlights past over-testing and discrimination during her career.
- Clarifies Super Bowl crip walk was fueled by tequila, not shade at Drake.
Serena Williams didn’t hold back in her latest interview. She voiced strong criticism over the lenient doping ban received by men’s World No. 1, Jannik Sinner.
Williams also took the opportunity to reflect on fellow player Maria Sharapova’s 15-month ban. She suggested a pattern of inconsistency in how doping cases are handled.
Serena Speaks Out: ‘I Would’ve Been Jailed for Sinner’s Doping Offense’
Serena Williams’ frustration with tennis’ anti-doping system resurfaced after Jannik Sinner’s recent three-month ban for testing positive for clostebol. In a candid statement, she said if the roles were reversed, she would have faced a 20-year ban and had her Grand Slam titles stripped. Her remarks highlight a long-standing issue of racial and gender disparities in how athletes are treated by governing bodies.
During her career, Serena was tested more frequently than many of her peers. In 2018, a Deadspin investigation revealed she had been tested five times by June that year. This was far more than other top U.S. players. She believes this intense scrutiny wasn’t coincidental, and her experiences speak to systemic bias in sport oversight.
The tennis world has seen a wave of criticism following Sinner’s ban. Tim Henman described the settlement as “too convenient,” and Nick Kyrgios bluntly stated that “fairness in tennis does not exist.” These comments reflect a growing mistrust among players toward the International Tennis Integrity Agency and WADA. However, they defend their handling of all cases as consistent and unbiased.
Serena also addressed a viral moment at the Super Bowl halftime show with Kendrick Lamar, where she performed a crip walk. Fans speculated it was a subtle dig at ex-boyfriend Drake. But Serena shut down the rumors, saying she was simply feeling the moment. She added that a couple of tequila shots and some hometown pride were fueling her dance moves.
Serena Williams may be retired from tennis, but her voice remains one of the sport’s most powerful. Her callout adds weight to the conversation around fairness, equity, and accountability in professional tennis.
“If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.” – Serena Williams
