World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has received a one-month penalty in the latest doping incident in rock tennis.
The reigning French Open champion tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance trimetazidine in August and was provisionally suspended the next month.
Swiatek, who previously cited ‘personal reasons’ for her absence from competitions, has now accepted a one-month punishment for violating anti-doping rules.
However, after serving 22 days of her suspension, the Pole will not miss any more tennis since she will serve the remaining eight days without competition.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted Swiatek’s explanation that her failed drugs test was caused by the contamination of the non-prescription medication melatonin, which she took for jet lag and sleep issues.
Subsequently, the ITIA said her level of fault was at the lowest end of the range for ‘no significant fault or negligence’.
Swiatek’s doping case is a further blow to the reputation of her sport, coming just two months after men’s No1 Jannik Sinner avoided a ban despite twice testing positive for banned steroid clostebol in March – something the World Anti-Doping Agency are now appealing.
In an Instagram statement, Swiatek described the last three months as ‘the worst experience in my life’ and insisted she ‘did nothing wrong’.
The five-time Grand Slam singles champion wrote: ‘The only positive doping test in my career, showing the unbelievably low level of a banned substance I’ve never heard about before, put everything I’ve worked so hard for my entire life into question. Both me and my team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety.
‘Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever. I’m just relieved it’s over.’
