Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek's victories in this year's Wimbledon as the men's and women's singles champions have not gone down well with many, since both had served suspensions after testing positive for banned substances last year. Swiatek served a one-month suspension at the back end of 2024 after she proved that a product she was using to help her sleep was contaminated. Sinner, meanwhile, was suspended for three months. The World No. 1 claimed he had been contaminated after a member of his team applied a spray to treat a cut on his finger that contained an anabolic steroid.

Sinner and his team later claimed he was contaminated when the team member gave him a massage. A one-year suspension looked likely until he reached a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to serve a three-month ban.

The timing of the suspension meant he did not miss any Grand Slam events. On his comeback, he played the French Open final but lost to Carlos Alcaraz. Reaching the final at Wimbledon, he made amends to his record against Alcaraz and won his maiden Wimbledon title.

With some experts and former players unhappy about Sinner and Swiatek winning Wimbledon due to their records as 'drug cheats', former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash hit back at the critics and urged them to "do their homework".

“Well done, Jannik,” began Cash, in a post on his Instagram account. “I’m happy for him and his team. I know his coach Darren Cahill very well, he is a good mate of mine. I have followed what has been going on over the last six months or so, especially around the drug bans. I’ve heard a lot of stuff pop up on social media about the ‘drug cheats’ winning Wimbledon, but it’s a little sad that this is still going on.

“Before you spout out some rubbish, I think people need to do a bit of homework. Even ten minutes of homework. Just check out what other champions are saying and know about the drug testing.

“Swiatek and Sinner were contaminated. It was not performance-enhancing. If you think WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Unit don’t do their homework and check this out, then you are absolutely insane.

“So please stop this. It’s misinformation. They are not drug cheats. They are the best players in the world for a reason.

“They are great players, they are determined and focused. Their mental capacity is incredible when you think what Sinner has been through. I’m very happy for them, and let’s acknowledge and accept their greatness rather than taint them because your favourite player didn’t win.”