World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month suspension from the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) after testing optimistic for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
The ITIA on Thursday confirmed that the Pole examined optimistic for the substance in an out-of-competition pattern on Aug. 12, 2024. As per its investigation, Swiatek “bore no vital fault or negligence” for the reason that optimistic take a look at was attributable to the contamination of a regulated medicine offered in Poland that she “had been taking for jet lag and sleep points, and that the violation was subsequently not intentional.”
The ITIA provided Swiatek a one-month suspension on Nov. 27, which she accepted. Nevertheless, she has already served 22 days of the ban as she was provisionally suspended between Sept. 12 and Oct. 4, inflicting her to overlook the Korean Open, China Open and Wuhan Open. Swiatek — who axed her coaching staff in October — cited “private causes” for lacking these tournaments. It’s now clear that she was pressured to overlook these occasions because of the provision ban.
The optimistic take a look at was not revealed publicly because of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme Guidelines. Swiatek was reinstated on the Tour after a profitable attraction, permitting her to play the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh and the Billie Jean King Cup finals.
With most of her suspension already served, the five-time main winner plans to return on the 2025 Australian Open. After accepting her one-month ban, an emotional Swiatek issued a press release, acknowledging that sitting at house because of the ban in October made her query her future as a tennis participant.
“This expertise, probably the most tough in my life up to now, taught me lots,” Swiatek said. “Going again to taking part in, competing within the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup gave me quite a lot of optimistic feelings and made me take pleasure in my sport once more. The entire thing will certainly stick with me for the remainder of my life. It took quite a lot of power, returning to coaching after this example practically broke my coronary heart. There have been many tears and many sleepless nights. The worst a part of it was uncertainty.
“I didn’t know what was going to occur with my profession, how issues would finish or if I’d be allowed to play tennis in any respect, which is why I’m so grateful to my household and my group. Individuals who stood by me, it doesn’t matter what, proper from the very starting. Everybody received collectively to assist me.”
