'That cloud will follow him': Novak Djokovic backs Jannik Sinner in doping case at Piers Morgan interview

Jannik Sinner was banned for three months in doping case in February 2025.

The Piers Morgan interview with Novak Djokovic has got the tennis world talking. Beyond Djokovic’s usual honesty and humour, it’s Jannik Sinner’s name that’s making the loudest noise after the chat on November 11, Tuesday.

During the sit-down, Djokovic didn’t shy away from addressing one of tennis’ most controversial moments of the year, Jannik Sinner’s doping case.

The 24-time expressed both empathy and unease over how the doping case was handled. What matters the most is that the Serbian great believes Sinner did not act intentionally but he did feel that the case raised “many red flags” and investigations left unfinished.

“I don’t think he did it on purpose, but the way the case was handled, there were so many red flags, honestly,” Djokovic told Morgan. “There is the lack of transparency, the inconsistency, the convenience of the ban coming between the Slams, so he doesn’t miss out the others – it was very, very odd.”

Sinner was suspended for testing positive for clostebol which is an anabolic steroid. His team claimed that the banned substance entered his system accidentally through a cream his physiotherapist used to treat a cut on their own hand.

"I'm sorry for over-egging the rhetorical soufflé…"Piers Morgan meets Novak Djokovic for the first time – and apologizes for the comments he made about him during the pandemic.Full interview now available! 👇📺 https://t.co/gCAjSqk5H2@piersmorgan | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/216cmrKtVT

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 11, 2025

However, the fact that the Italian was twice tested positive for clostebol in March 2024, there was a ban awaiting. Eventually, to avoid a prolonged legal dispute, Sinner reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), accepting a three-month ban in February 2025.

Djokovic, who has faced his share of controversies in his career, drew a parallel between Sinner’s situation and his own experience with the COVID-19 vaccination saga in 2022, when he was deported from Australia and barred from competing at the US Open.

“That cloud will follow him just as the cloud of COVID will follow me, for the rest of his, or my career in this case,” Djokovic said, acknowledging how reputational scars tend to linger in career.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic clinches 101st career title, surpasses Roger Federer to set new hardcourt record

Despite criticising the handling of the case, Djokovic spoke warmly about Sinner’s character. “I’ve known Jannik since he was probably 13 or 14 years of age.

“He (Sinner) was skinny as I was, tall, grew up skiing in the mountains. He always came across as very genuine, very nice, very quiet… When this happened, I was shocked, honestly,” Djokovic said.

He added that while the controversy might fade with time, “there will always be a group of people who bring it up.”

The interview also sparked another round of online debate when Piers Morgan, known for his sharp wit, took a swipe during the conversation.

When Djokovic suggested that Sinner could one day be part of his interview, Morgan replied, “I only interview GOATs,” implying that Sinner had not yet earned that status.

The remark, though said in jest, drew mixed reactions. Many of the fans accused Morgan of being disrespectful. “Yes, please stay away from him”, said one of them.

Yes please stay away from jannik https://t.co/QlxEbYYqoT

— gravy (@another425) November 12, 2025

So disrespectful!

— я ن ileirpo ن 📉 (@iirpo) November 12, 2025

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