Iga Swiatek: The second on the earth acquired a one-month doping suspension

World quantity two and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month suspension after testing constructive for a banned substance.

The 23-year-old reigning French Open champion examined constructive for the guts drug, trimetazidine (TMZ), in a late-competition pattern in August 2024, when he was world primary.

The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) accepted that it was brought on by the contamination of the unauthorized managed drug melatonin, produced and offered in Poland, which Swiatek took due to jet lag and sleep issues.

Swiatek’s degree of error was due to this fact thought-about to be on the decrease finish of the ‘No Materials Error or Negligence’ vary.

“For the previous two and a half months I’ve been dealing with a critical ITIA case, which confirms my innocence,” he mentioned on Instagram.

“The one constructive doping take a look at of my profession, exhibiting an unbelievably low degree of a banned substance I had by no means heard of earlier than, referred to as into query every thing I had labored so exhausting for all my life.

“Each my staff and I needed to cope with loads of stress and anxiousness. Now every thing has been fastidiously defined, and with a clear slate I can return to what I really like probably the most.”

Swiatek was suspended from 12 September earlier than efficiently interesting the case, lacking three matches.

The Polish participant appealed the suspension on September 22, informing an unbiased court docket that the supply of the virus take a look at was recognized as a contaminated drug manufactured in his nation.

After an investigation confirmed Swiatek’s account, ITIA gave him a one-month suspension, which he accepted on Wednesday.

As a result of his suspension was lifted on October 4, Swiatek’s interval of ineligibility will expire on December 4, 2024.

Pole was additionally compelled to forfeit prize cash when he ran within the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open, the event that instantly adopted the trial.

“I admit that this case has hit me exhausting as a result of all my life I’ve been striving to have a job that may be an instance for future generations,” mentioned Swiatek.

“I really feel that this case could destroy the status that I’ve been constructing for years, that’s the reason I hope you’ll perceive that I didn’t have the ability to take action and there may be nothing I can do to forestall this unlucky state of affairs.

“With out my followers I am unsure I’d have been capable of finding the power to maintain combating. Now I’ve fought the toughest struggle of my life, I hope you’ll stick with me and proceed to assist me.”

Swiatek, who along with his fourth French Open gained titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome in 2024, missed the Korea Open (16-22 September), China Open (25 September – 6 October) and Wuhan Open (7- 13 October – suspended) in the course of the entry deadline).

The ITIA didn’t disclose its suspension as a result of the participant efficiently appealed inside 10 days of discover.

ITIA chief government Karen Moorhouse mentioned: “As soon as the supply of TMZ was established, it turned clear that this was an uncommon incidence of a contaminated product, which is a managed drug in Poland.

“Nonetheless, the product doesn’t have the identical names around the globe, and the truth that the product is a managed drug in a single nation is not going to be sufficient to keep away from any degree of error. Given the character of the drug, and all the present cures. circumstances, it places that error on the finish of the dimensions.”

Swiatek’s suspension comes after males’s world primary Jannik Sinner examined constructive for clostebol in March.

Though the ITIA accepted that “no fault or negligence” was linked to the 23-year-old Italian, the World Anti-Doping Company (Wada) introduced a grievance to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

The Girls’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) acknowledged the ITIA’s determination in an announcement and supplied its “full assist” to Swiatek at a “troublesome” time.

“The Iga has persistently demonstrated a robust dedication to honest play and the ideas of unpolluted sport, and this unlucky incident highlights the challenges athletes face when utilizing medication and dietary supplements,” the WTA mentioned.

“The WTA stays steadfast in our assist for honest play and strict procedures that shield the integrity of competitors.

“We additionally emphasize that athletes should take all precautions to make sure the protection and compatibility of all merchandise they use, as even unintentional publicity to prohibited substances can have important penalties.”