Written by 
Recent doping controversies involving top players have not damaged the reputation of tennis but having a single commissioner for the sport would go a long way towards clearing up any confusion surrounding cases, John McEnroe says.
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner failed two drugs tests in March for trace amounts of the anabolic androgenic steroid clostebol, but was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent tribunal that accepted his explanation of unintentional contamination.
Women’s No 2 Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban in November after a positive test for hormone and metabolic modulator trimetazidine, which she said was the result of contamination of her sleep medication.
The ITIA, which runs the anti-doping program, said both cases involved “inadvertent breaches of the rules.”
”I don’t think it has done any damage because if you look, it’s way worse in the other sports,” McEnroe said ahead of the Australian Open.
”In my opinion tennis is cleaner than any other sport. Now that doesn’t mean there are no issues.”
For instance, Sinner’s positive test in March not being made public until just before the US Open began in August, makes matters worse, McEnroe said.
”That part I really don’t like,” he added.
Rennae Stubbs, a former player and current coach, said players are tested “all the time” and that a commissioner could help increase transparency. “We need a commissioner of tennis that actually gets out there and speaks,” she said.
McEnroe said he advocated for a commissioner and had been “ready, willing and able” to take the job.
”People are too busy, these tournaments protect their own interests … they don’t care enough about the sport,” he said.
REUTERS