French Open champion, Iga Swiatek banned from tennis after testing positive for prohibited substance
However, having already served 22 days of the suspension, the Pole will not miss any more tennis,
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World No.2 Iga Swiatek has been handed a one-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance
Back in August, the reigning French Open champion tested positive for performance-enhancing drug trimetazidine and was provisionally suspended the following month.
Swiatek, who blamed ‘personal reasons’ for her absence from tournaments at the time, has now accepted a one-month ban for an anti-doping rule violation.
However, having already served 22 days of the suspension, the Pole will not miss any more tennis, as she will serve the remaining eight days now when there is no 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 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.’
Trimetazidine, also known as TMZ, is normally used as a heart medicine for its ability to enhance blood flow.
