“It’s just frustrating for some players that it just seems so hit or miss with how people get punished” – Pegula on recent doping cases
The American believes the explanation she received on the Iga Swiatek case made sense
Zuma/Panoramic
US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula has said she believes the explanation she received with regards to the recent one-month suspension of Iga Swiatek. However, at the same time, the American added it is frustrating for players to see such diverse punishments for doping-related offences.
In recent times, three high-profile players have tested positive for banned substances. While Swiatek received a one-month suspension, Simona Halep had to endure a 19-month suspension and Jannik Sinner received no ban.
Several players have taken to social media in the wake of these cases to express their surprise on the varied punishments in these recent cases.
“I don’t know, it seems like they investigated it and she had her reasoning,” Pegula told the media in New York earlier this week. “I mean you have to trust that they’re doing their job—that they’re coming to the right conclusion.”
She did miss the Asian swing and that also may have hurt her chances for the year-end No. 1, which is obviously massive for her.
“I think it’s just frustrating for people on the outside—or even for some players—that it just seems so hit or miss with how people get punished. I’ve been explained why it happens. But at the same time it’s like ‘Yeah, but how does this vary so deeply?’ And I think that can be frustrating. But how it was explained to me, it seems pretty cut and dried almost,” Pegula said. “And the explanation made sense.”
Pegula added that while it may seem that Swiatek is serving her suspension during the off-season, the Pole had to miss key events in the Asian swing which eventually caused her to lose the top spot in the world rankings.
“You’re kind of wondering how that works when you’re not competing how it doesn’t seem to affect anything so it’s really not much of a punishment. But I mean she did miss the Asian swing and that also may have hurt her chances for the year-end No. 1, which is obviously massive for her. Money-wise and sponsors and being able to have that No. 1 spot hurt too. So I’m sure she didn’t want to miss those,” the world No 7 said.
People in this post
More tennis news
“I also think there is a side to Nick few people see..” – Osaka on what she admires about Kyrgios
Nadal recalls childhood incident that turned out to be a “very important lesson for me”
“There were months when I thought about taking a complete break from tennis to cleanse my mind” – Nadal
“Even a Djokovic can still learn something” – Melzer on the Serb’s partnership with Murray
“Fonseca reminds me of like a mini-Sinner” – Michelsen
