Swiatek Panicked After Receiving News of a Failed Drug Test
December 8, 2024
Iga speaks about the failed drug test ban in an Instagram video
Iga Świątek, the world number two in women tennis, recently agreed to a one-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The five-time Grand Slam champion’s positive test for trimetazidine (TMZ) came from an out-of-competition sample collected in August 2024.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Świątek’s explanation that the positive result was due to contamination from a regulated non-prescription melatonin supplement, which she had used to manage jet lag and sleep issues.
The melatonin, manufactured and sold in Poland, was found to be the source of the contamination after testing confirmed her account. Świątek was determined to have committed “No Significant Fault or Negligence,” placing her at the lower end of the fault spectrum.
“In the last two-and-a-half months I was subject to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence….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,” she said on Instagram.
“I admit this situation hit me hard because all my life I strived to have a career that could be an example for generations to come… I have a sense this situation could undermine the image I’ve been building for years, which is why I hope you will understand I had no control over it and could do nothing to prevent this unfortunate turn of events,” Swiatek added.
The tennis star was provisionally suspended from September 12, missing three tournaments during the Asian swing—the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open—before successfully appealing the suspension.
Świątek’s period of ineligibility concluded on December 4, 2024, after her provisional suspension was lifted on October 4. As a result, the 23-year-old was cleared to return to competition at the WTA Finals, having already served most of her suspension in October.
Additionally, Świątek forfeited the prize money from her semifinal run at the Cincinnati Open, the tournament held immediately after her positive test. Despite the setback, she claimed five titles in 2024, including her fourth French Open, as well as victories in Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) expressed its full support for the Polish player following the ITIA’s decision. “Iga has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to fair play and upholding the principles of clean sport, and this unfortunate incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating the use of medications and supplements,” the WTA added.
In an interview with Polish television, Iga acknowledged that she was able to hire top specialists to handle her doping case, thanks to her financial resources. She admitted to spending “about $70,000 on a lawyer, €15,000 on expert opinions and tests…..I know that many athletes do not have such opportunities, and I think this is something that may hold them back, because I actually paid for the entire process.”
Speaking with Anita Werner on Fakty po Faktach on TVN24, Świątek was asked about her reaction when she first learned of the failed test.
“My reaction was very violent. It was a mixture of incomprehension and panic. There was a lot of crying……. Generally, I wasn’t able to read it (email) to the end, because I was already drenched in tears. My managers said that my reaction was as if someone had died or something serious had happened to my health. I’m glad I wasn’t alone, because I was able to hand them the phone and show them what happened,” she said.
Similarities Between Swiatek and Sinner
Swiatek’s suspension comes after men’s world number one Jannik Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol – a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass – during the Indian Wells tournament in March.
The ITIA determined that there was “no fault or negligence” on the part of the 23-year-old Italian, Sinner, after it was found that he had been inadvertently contaminated with the substance by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Naldi had used an over-the-counter spray on a cut on his own hand before conducting treatments on Sinner, leading to the contamination. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) regarding Sinner’s case.