'Triple standards': John Millman fires up over Max Purcell's 'ridiculous' 18-month doping ban

Australian tennis great John Millman has slammed apparent "triple standards" in the sport and called for a "complete overhaul" of the WADA punishment system in the wake of Max Purcell's 18-month doping ban.

Purcell was handed the ban on Tuesday afternoon (AEST) for receiving intravenous infusions of over 500mL, more than five times over the 100mL limit.

Millman told 9News on Tuesday night the ban was "shocking" and "ridiculous" given all the vitamins were on WADA's approved list. Purcell was given them by a doctor while ill on holiday in Bali.

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Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek have received significantly smaller bans for testing positive to banned substances.

"Now both those players did so unintentionally, but we talk about double standards, if there's such a thing as triple standards, I think that's what is happening here," Millman told Nine's Today on Wednesday morning.

"I think there should be a complete overhaul (of the punishment system). I've been a big supporter of Jannik, but it really does beg the question, are players being treated on a level playing field? It does certainly look as if some of those top players are getting preferential treatment.

"Max was found to have no prohibited substance in his body whatsoever. Yes, the intravenous drip, it was more than the allowed amount, but the ITIA came out to say there was not one bit of illegal substance in his system.

"It really begs the question whether the 18-month ban was justified."

The WTA and ATP are currently in a legal fight with the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), who are suing the tours as well as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) over a litany of player-raised issues including prize money and restrictions on player endorsements, as well as concerns around doping.

Purcell's "full co-operation and information sharing with the ITIA" earned him a 25 per cent reduction in his suspension.

In a statement on social media, Purcell revealed he had developed "nervous and anxious tics" since the saga began.

"This case has been going on for months, seriously affecting my quality of life," he wrote.

"From being unable to sleep and eat properly, and refusing to be by myself, to developing nervous and anxious tics which I still currently battle day to day.

"I couldn't sit and enjoy anything without the thought of the case and the endless possibilities of what sanction I would receive. I was nothing but cooperative with the ITIA.

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"I'm so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life."

Millman said he hoped the tennis world would rally around the 27-year-old.

"Any time away from the game is a long amount of time, but 18 months (at this point in his career), it's extremely difficult," he said.

"I hope that the Federation really supports him, because it's not just the physical time away from the game, but this has visibly shown a lot of mental strain on Max Purcell.

"I know the Davis Cup boys, they'll get around him and hopefully the Federation does too."