Sports
Djokovic: 'Favoritism' obvious in light Sinner doping ban
Novak Djokovic celebrates after match point against Jannik Sinner during a quarterfinals mens singles match on Centre court at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images Novak Djokovic no longer trusts the international drug-testing and enforcement process in tennis, citing “favoritism” in the recent three-month suspension for World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Sinner twice tested positive for the synthetic anabolic steroid Clostebol in March 2024 but the International Tennis Integrity Agency found his support team at fault in light of the Italian star claiming he applied the steroid accidentally and without his knowledge through a recovery and healing spray.
The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, resulting in an agreement to a three-month suspension rather than the typical punishment: a complete ban from training and competition for 1-2 years.
In 2024, Poland’s Iga Swiatek received only a one-month suspension for violating the anti-doping policy.
“There’s a majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled,” Djokovic said.
“The majority of the players don’t feel it’s fair. The majority of the players feel there is favoritism happening. It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you’re a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers and whatnot. Swiatek and Sinner are innocent unless it’s proven otherwise. Right now they are innocent. Sinner’s got a suspension of three months because of the mistakes and the negligence of his team members that are working on the tour. That’s also something that I personally and a lot of players find a bit strange.”
Sinner was still active in January and won the Australian Open, his third major title. He is suspended from Feb. 9 until May 4, a timeline Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, found too convenient given there are no majors contested during that timeframe. The French Open begins May 25.
American Jessica Pegula and Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz took a less aggressive position but called for an overhaul of a system that appears to benefit top players.
“If you are clean or not, the process is completely broken. I think it needs to be seriously looked at and considered,” Pegula said. “I feel they have so much power that they can destroy someone’s career, and I think something needs to be done about it because it seems extremely unfair. I don’t think any of the players trust the process at all right now.”
Others quickly raised an issue with Sinner being spotted on the practice courts on Feb. 13 in Doha, five days after the purported ban was to be in effect. WADA said the date of the suspension was retroactive and not official until the public announcement Feb. 15.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) follows through on his single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images The American League West-leading Texas Rangers placed starting third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list on Saturday — retroactive to Wednesday — with a left calf strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock before Saturday’s home game against the second-place Seattle Mariners.
Jung, 28, exited Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings with a left calf issue and has not played since. In 92 games this season, the 2023 All-Star is hitting .294 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Aug. 1.
Texas’ first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Jung has hit .264 with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs in 417 games with the Rangers.
Smith, 28, is in his third stint with the Rangers this season, batting .230 with one run and eight RBIs in 40 games. The versatile five-year veteran has played five positions in 2026, mainly seeing time at second base (34 games/30 starts).
In 496 games with Texas since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021, Smith has hit .236 with 32 homers and 136 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
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