Novak Djokovic insists tennis remains a clean sport after he claimed there’s no proof of doping.

Djokovic was asked on the red carpet the Laureus Awards in Berlin to discuss Andy Murray’s comments that he has sometimes been “suspicious” of opponents and that the sport needs more transparency in terms of its doping controls.

On the same day his coach Boris Becker slammed Murray’s claims, the Serbian world No. 1 also disagreed with the Briton’s assessment.

“Of course there’s some speculation and some rumours,” Djokovic told CNN. “The media is trying to create the stories and so forth. As long as there is no proof that somebody is doping, the sport is clean. I am actually proud of the integrity of our sport.”

Maria Sharapova failed a test for meldonium at the Australian Open in January and is currently serving a provisional ban until a permanent one is imposed.

In 2013, Croat Marin Cilic withdrew from Wimbledon with an injury only for it later to emerge he failed a test for nikethamide. While in November last year, Roger Federer called for more stringent testing.

The doping spotlight has fallen on tennis the same year match-fixing claims have also beset the sport.

Djokovic, named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Awards for which IWC Schaffhausen are a global partner, added: “It’s tricky for tennis, there’s many stories that go round, betting, doping, it seems the weight has come down on tennis.

“But I think it all comes down to anti-doping agencies, governing bodies, need to come out with proof. If they don’t it’s only rumour.”