NEW YORK: American great Serena Williams said she would have been banned for 20 years and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like men`s world number one Jannik Sinnerdidlastyear.

Sinner accepted a three-month ban in February following an agreement with the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA), which challenged an independent tribunal`s decision to clear him of wrongdoing after two positive tests for the anabolic agent clostebol.

`I love the guy, love this game,` Serena, who retired in 2022 after winning 23 Grand Slam trophies, t old Time Magazine.

`He`s great for the sport. I`ve been put down so much, I don`t want to bring anyone down. Men`s tennis needs him.

`[But] if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years.

Let`s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.

Reigning Australian Open and US Open champion Sinner, whose ban will end on May 4, has always maintained his innocence though his case raised questions about whether he had received preferential treatment from the authorities.

Iga Swiatek`s case also caused some surprise with the women`s world number two accepting a onemonth suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.-Reuters