Women's world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has weighed in on the lack of transparency that has surrounded several high-profile doping cases in tennis saying, "We will never know the truth".
A dark cloud is currently hanging over the sport ahead of the first grand slam of the new year, the Australian Open (AO).
On Monday, Australian Max Purcell became the latest athlete to become tangled in the doping controversies after entering into a voluntary provisional suspension following his admission to a breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP).
Aryna Sabalenka speaks to media ahead of the 2025 Brisbane International. Albert Perez/Getty Images for Tennis Australia
Purcell confessed to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that he "unknowingly" received an IV infusion that measured above the 100ml legal limit outlined in the TADP.
He stated that he did not wish to hide the error from the ITIA before accepting a provisional suspension which prohibits him from playing in the upcoming Brisbane International and AO.
However, the penalty has raised eyebrows with two of Purcell's higher-ranked peers having received relatively light punishment for their recent doping cases.
Men's world No.1 Jannik Sinner failed two doping tests for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March.
Sinner later explained that the banned substance entered his system after receiving a massage from his physiotherapist, who had recently applied a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.
Sinner was cleared and freed from a provisional suspension to contest the US Open later that month, which he went on to win.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has since appealed the ruling that exonerated him and is pushing for a lengthy ban. A decision on the case will not be made until next year.
Then, last month, it was also announced that women's world No.2 Iga Swiatek had quietly accepted and served a one-month suspension following a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine.
Ahead of a potential match-up at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka was asked her opinion of the Swiatek case.
Watch the Brisbane International live and free on 9Now!
"I feel like we will never know the truth," she said on Tuesday.
"People are overreacting at the first minute the big news comes out.
Aryna Sabalenka practices at Pat Rafter Arena ahead of the 2025 Brisbane International. Albert Perez/Getty Images for Tennis Australia
"I feel like, I don't want to dig too deep into that case.
"I really believe in a clean sport, so I don't want to comment on that anymore."
Sabalenka will kick-start her 2025 campaign as the hot favourite to take out the Brisbane International before shifting her focus to the AO.
The 26-year-old will end this year as world No.1 for the first time in her career and was earlier this month voted Player of the Year for the WTA Awards.
But Sabalenka believes there is more she can do to improve her game.
"There are so many things to improve," she said.
"I'm not that good with the game at the net, there are a lot of things to improve in my touch game … even my serve is not as good as I wanted it to be, so there are always gaps to improve.
"I feel fresh and ready to go. I love Australia and I will always come here hungry and always come here ready and as good as possible."
The Brisbane International begins on Friday, December 27.
