Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s victories at Wimbledon this year have been described as “especially meaningful”—not just because of their exceptional tennis, but also because both players returned to the sport after recent doping-related suspensions.

For the first time in Wimbledon history, both the men’s and women’s singles champions had previously served bans for testing positive for banned substances. Although both players were cleared of intentional wrongdoing—after authorities accepted that the substances entered their systems through contaminated medications—their wins have sparked controversy.

While many in the tennis world are supportive, others have raised concerns about the message it sends.

“It’s not a good look for the sport,” said Australian player Nick Kyrgios before the finals.

Shortly after Sinner’s win, Kyrgios posted a cryptic asterisk (*) on social media, which many interpreted as a subtle critique of the result, given that Sinner had only recently completed a short doping suspension.

Sinner: “This win is even more special”

Speaking to BBC Sport, Sinner said he and Swiatek discussed how the tough months leading up to Wimbledon made their victories more meaningful.

“Me and Iga actually talked about this yesterday. It was a very difficult time for both of us, and only those close to us really know what we went through. Some people will support you, and some won’t—that’s life. That’s why this win feels very special.”

Swiatek also addressed the issue after her final:

“The way the media treated me and my team in the past few months was not pleasant. I hope they’ll just let me focus on my job now.”

What happened with Swiatek?

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, tested positive in August 2024 for trimetazidine (TMZ)—a heart medication banned in sport for its potential to improve endurance. She served a one-month suspension, ending in December 2024.

Investigators accepted that the positive result came from contaminated non-prescription melatonin tablets she took in Poland to help with jet lag and sleep. Her fault was deemed minimal, and no further action was taken.

What happened with Sinner?

Sinner tested positive twice in March 2024 for small amounts of clostebol, an anabolic steroid used to build muscle. He received two provisional suspensions but successfully appealed both, and independent investigators later accepted that the contamination came from an over-the-counter spray used by his physiotherapist to treat a hand wound.

Although he was cleared of intentional doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) disagreed with the tribunal’s verdict and pushed for a ban of 1 to 2 years.

Instead, a controversial settlement was reached before the case went to court, and Sinner served a three-month ban—allowing him to return in time for the French Open and Wimbledon.

This outcome triggered accusations of favoritism and raised questions about the conduct of his support team, none of whom faced any disciplinary action.

Why weren’t the bans longer?

WADA argued that Sinner should have faced punishment under strict liability, which holds athletes accountable for any banned substance in their body, regardless of intent.

But they ultimately accepted that Sinner had not intended to cheat, had no performance benefit, and was unknowingly affected by the actions of his entourage. The organization chose to settle rather than risk an uncertain verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“This case was a million miles away from doping,” said WADA’s general counsel Ross Wenzel.

Such settlements have become more common since 2021, with WADA having reached 67 similar agreements. A rule change coming in 2027 will formalize punishments for athletes with no fault—from a reprimand up to a two-year ban.

In Swiatek’s case, WADA chose not to appeal her one-month suspension after confirming the contamination scenario was scientifically plausible.

Should fans be worried?

Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), said both cases were examples of unintentional rule breaches, not deliberate doping.

“These aren’t cases of intentional cheating. We’ve been open and transparent. It shows how deep and thorough our anti-doping process is.”

Still, the controversies surrounding Sinner and Swiatek’s wins have added complexity to their legacies—and raised deeper questions about the integrity and consistency of the sport’s anti-doping system.