Serena Williams has claimed she would have faced a 20-year ban had she committed the same doping violation as world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion made the controversial remarks in a recent interview with Time Magazine.
Sinner received a three-month ban after twice testing positive for clostebol in March last year.
Williams suggested there is a double standard in how doping violations are handled in tennis.
Serena Williams has claimed she would have faced a 20-year ban had she committed the same doping violation as world No 1 Jannik Sinner
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Sinner is set to return to competition at the Italian Open next month following his brief suspension.
Doping authorities accepted the Italian's explanation that the banned substance entered his system via a massage from his physio.
His physio had treated a cut on his own finger with an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol, an anabolic steroid.
The Tennis Integrity Agency initially gave Sinner no ban at all for the positive tests.
Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month ban for doping back in February
ReutersHowever, WADA appealed that decision earlier this year.
A controversial settlement was reached with Sinner in February, resulting in the three-month suspension.
The case has sparked debate within tennis about consistency in doping punishments.
Many players and observers have questioned whether the Italian received preferential treatment due to his status.
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In the Time Magazine interview, Williams expressed mixed feelings about Sinner's situation.
"Fantastic personality. I love the guy, I love his game. He's great for the sport," she said.
However, she didn't hold back on the perceived double standard.
"If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me," Williams stated.
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The American tennis legend, now 43, even joked that any doping controversy during her career would have seen her "jailed".
She added: "You would have heard about it in another multiverse."
Williams also expressed sympathy for her former rival Maria Sharapova in the interview.
"Just weirdly and oddly, I can't help but think about Maria all this time," Williams said. "I can't help but feel for her."
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PASharapova was banned for two years in 2016, later reduced to 15 months on appeal, after testing positive for meldonium.
The Russian claimed she was unaware the substance had recently been added to the prohibited list.
Williams is not alone in her criticism of Sinner's punishment.
Novak Djokovic previously stated: "A majority of the players don't feel that it's fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening."
