Jannik Sinner has had his nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award withdrawn after receiving a three-month doping ban.

Sinner tested positive for trace amounts of the banned substance clostebol in March last year. He was initially cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent tribunal, but WADA launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Laureus World Sports Academy chairman Sean Fitzpatrick said: “Following discussions by the Laureus Academy, it has been decided that Jannik Sinner’s nomination for this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn.

“We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and – whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved – feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible.

“Jannik and his team have been informed.”

“It’s not a good image for our sport, that’s for sure,” Djokovic said.

“There is a consensus, or I would say a majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also the last few months: they are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled.

“The majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. The majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening.

“It seems like it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers and whatnot.

“We have to choose. The inconsistency is something that frustrates all the players.

“It’s like, if you are going to treat every case individually or independently, which is what’s happening, then there is no consistency, then there is no transparency. Some cases are transparent, some are not.”