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Serena Williams: “I Would Have Been Banned For 20 Years” If I Failed Drug Tests Like Sinner

by News Editor

April 17, 2025

Serena Williams, one of tennis’s most iconic figures, has claimed she would have been handed a 20-year ban and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like Jannik Sinner did last year. Serena Williams, who retired in 2022 with 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, has long been one of tennis’s most dominant players.

Sinner, the world number one in men’s tennis, accepted a three-month ban earlier this year after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenged an independent tribunal’s ruling clearing him of wrongdoing despite testing positive for clostebol, an anabolic steroid. The Italian player maintains his innocence, but the case sparked questions about possible preferential treatment from the authorities. His suspension will be lifted on May 4, 2025.

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In the interview, Williams expressed admiration for Sinner, describing him as a talented player who is “great for the sport.” However, she also highlighted the double standards that seem to exist in tennis, pointing out that had she been in Sinner’s position, the consequences would have been far more severe.

“I love the guy, love this game. 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,” Williams stated. “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.”

Her comments bring attention to the perceived inconsistencies in the way drug testing and bans are applied in tennis. While Sinner’s suspension remains relatively short, high-profile cases such as Iga Świątek’s one-month ban in November for testing positive for trimetazidine and Simona Halep’s controversial four-year ban for roxadustat use (which was reduced to nine months following an appeal) have ignited further debate.

Williams also shared that she always took extra precautions to ensure she didn’t unknowingly ingest anything that could potentially cause trouble, reflecting the heightened vigilance required by athletes to avoid the risk of unintentional doping violations.

As the sport continues to confront doping issues, questions around consistency and fairness in the application of sanctions remain key talking points.

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Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 26, 2026

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

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Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.