Novak Djokovic has made a scathing attack on the anti-doping program in tennis in a furious response to fellow Serb Viktor Troicki's ban for missing a drugs test.
World No.2 Djokovic was shocked to hear on Tuesday that Troicki had been told by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that he must serve a 12-month ban.
Troicki had originally been suspended for 18 months by an International Tennis Federation anti-doping tribunal but had appealed to CAS to have the sanction overturned.
He refused to take a blood test at the Monte Carlo Masters in April because he was feeling unwell and cited a severe phobia of needles.
The CAS panel accepted the doping control officer (DCO) should have made sure Troicki understood the gravity of the situation but found he had committed a doping offence.
The verdict came only 11 days after Croatia's Marin Cilic had his ban for failing a doping test reduced from nine months to four by CAS.
Djokovic has been one of Troicki's most vocal supporters and has made it clear he has lost all faith in the anti-doping process.
"It's very bad news that we got for him, and for me, for all of us who are close to him," Djokovic said.
"But I think it's just not bad news for him - it proves again that this system does not work.
"First of all, he's not positive on any banned substance. I'm not saying that it's completely not his fault.
"She (the DCO) did not clearly present him all the severe consequences that he will have if he avoids that. She told him that he needs to write a report and that he will be just fine.
"And because of her negligence and because of her unprofessionalism, he is now off the tour for one year. And now it makes me nervous as a player to do any kind of test.
"Now in Viktor's case, he's going to be sanctioned until July next year, and this lady, the DCO, she's going to come back tomorrow for the job. Nobody is going to answer for that. Only him. Why?
"For me, this is total injustice. It's just incredible."
The ATP governing body did not escape Djokovic's wrath either as he accused it of failing to support Troicki.
"The ATP, which is supposed to be an association of players of tennis professionals, which is supposed to be the governing body, the association that stands behind the players, is not going to answer on this announcement, is not going to do anything for Viktor.
"So Viktor is there by himself. Tomorrow, it can be anybody else. Cilic was there in this situation.
"That's it. That's my statement. Sorry, but that's what I had to do. Not just because of him, but because of the sake of the players and because of the sake of the sport. It's just ridiculous."
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