Former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov has advised tennis stars to boycott matches against Jannik Sinner.

Kafelnikov, who retired in 2003, has been joined by a number of current players such as Nick Kyrgios and Stan Wawrinka in speaking out against Sinner’s three-month ban. The Italian twice tested positive for banned substance clostebol last year, which he claims was due to a steroid cream being used to treat a cut on his physio’s finger.

Sinner was initially let off the hook by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) – a verdict which was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). And on Saturday it was announced that a ‘settlement’ had been reached over a three-month ban which will see Sinner return before the season’s next Grand Slam in May.

Kafelnikov, who won two Grand Slams in men’s singles and four more in doubles, has called on ATP Tour players to stage a boycott. The 50-year-old wrote on X: “After [the] latest developments, I would do the following (assuming I was still playing).

“Every time I draw Sinner in a tournament, I do not go on court, doesn’t matter if [it’s] first round or [a] final. But I’m afraid not one [player] will do the same [wink emoji].”

That was just one of numerous strongly-worded posts from Kafelnikov, who also wrote: “I just don’t get it!! If you [are] absolutely 100% sure of your innocence (as he was before with his lawyers), why [are] you accepting [a] three-month ban?? Makes no sense to me.”

Ten minutes later, he added: “WADA is [the] dirtiest organisation! You can make any deal you want with them even if [you’re] guilty.”

Sinner’s period of suspension started on February 9 and will run until May 4, giving him a three-week window to prepare for the French Open and bid for his second Grand Slam title of the season.

Kyrgios has repeatedly criticised the process leading up to Sinner’s three-month ban and was once again left flabbergasted by the final result.

“So you were innocent and we were getting fed that you were innocent, but now you are suspended from playing the sport?” he wrote on X. “Make it make sense. I’ve got multiple players in my DMs on how putrid this is [laughing emoji]. Even Grand Slam champions. Cooked [cap emoji].”

Wawrinka, who won three Grand Slam titles between 2014 and 2016, went straight to the point with: “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore…”