PARIS, 29 NOV – World number two tennis player, Iga Swiatek, received a one-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, according to an announcement by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) yesterday.
Swiatek, 23, tested positive for the heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition test sample in August 2024 when the Pole was ranked world number one. However, the ITIA confirmed the decision was due to ‘contamination in a controlled non-prescription drug (melatonin), which is manufactured and sold in Poland and is taken by players to overcome jet lag and sleep problems.’
“The breach was unintentional, the level of the player’s fault is considered to be at the lowest level of the ‘no fault or significant negligence’ category,” ITIA said.
The defending French Open champion, who has five Grand Slam women’s singles titles, four at Roland Garros and one at the 2022 US Open, accepted the suspension.
“I am finally allowed to speak, so I want to immediately share with you all about the worst experience of my life,” said an emotional Swiatek in a post on social media.
“In the last two and a half months, I have undergone strict procedures from ITIA, which confirmed my innocence.
“The only positive doping test in my career, which showed very low levels of banned substances that I had never heard of before, called into question everything I had worked for all my life.
“My team and I had to face a lot of pressure and anxiety. Now everything has been thoroughly explained, and with a clean slate, I can return to what I love most.” – AFP
