PARIS: World quantity two Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month suspension after testing optimistic for a banned substance, the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) introduced on Thursday (Nov 28).
Swiatek, 23, examined optimistic for the guts medicine trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition pattern in August 2024 when the Polish participant was ranked primary within the world.
The ITIA, nevertheless, accepted that it was attributable to “the contamination of a regulated non-prescription medicine (melatonin), manufactured and bought in Poland that the participant had been taking for jet lag and sleep points”.
“The violation was subsequently not intentional … the participant’s degree of fault was thought of to be on the lowest finish of the vary for ‘No Vital Fault or Negligence’,” the ITIA mentioned.
Reigning French Open champion Swiatek, who has 5 Grand Slam singles titles, 4 at Roland Garros and the 2022 US Open, accepted the suspension.
“I am lastly allowed … so I immediately wish to share with you one thing that turned the worst expertise of my life,” an emotional Swiatek mentioned in a put up on social media.
“Within the final two-and-a-half months I used to be topic to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence.
“The one optimistic doping take a look at in my profession, exhibiting unbelievably low degree of a banned substance I’ve by no means heard about earlier than, put every thing I’ve labored so onerous for my complete life into query.
“Each me and my group needed to cope with super stress and anxiousness. Now every thing has been rigorously defined, and with a clear slate I can return to what I like most.”
