World quantity two and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month suspension after testing optimistic for a banned substance.
The 23-year-old reigning French Open champion examined optimistic for a coronary heart remedy, trimetazidine (TMZ), in an out-of-competition pattern in August 2024, when she was world primary.
The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) accepted that it was attributable to contamination of the regulated non-prescription remedy melatonin, manufactured and bought in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep points.
Swiatek’s degree of fault was due to this fact thought-about to be on the lowest finish of the vary for ‘No Important Fault or Negligence’.
“Within the final two-and-a-half months I used to be topic to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence,” she mentioned on Instagram.
“The one optimistic doping check in my profession, exhibiting unbelievably low degree of a banned substance I’ve by no means heard about earlier than, put all the pieces I’ve labored so arduous for my total life into query.
“Each me and my crew needed to take care of large stress and nervousness. Now all the pieces has been fastidiously defined, and with a clear slate I can return to what I really like most.”
Swiatek was provisionally suspended from 12 September earlier than efficiently interesting, lacking three tournaments.
The Polish participant appealed the provisional suspension on 22 September, notifying an impartial tribunal that the supply of the optimistic check had been recognized as a contaminated drugs manufactured in her house nation.
After testing confirmed Swiatek’s account, the ITIA provided her a one-month suspension which she accepted on Wednesday.
As a result of her provisional suspension was lifted on 4 October, Swiatek’s interval of ineligibility will finish on 4 December 2024.
The Pole was additionally pressured to forfeit the prize cash from her run to the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, the match that immediately adopted the check.
“I admit this case hit me arduous as a result of all my life I strived to have a profession that might be an instance for generations to come back,” added Swiatek.
“I’ve a way this case may undermine the picture I have been constructing for years, which is why I hope you’ll perceive I had no management over it and will do nothing to stop this unlucky flip of occasions.
“With out my supporters I’m not certain I’d have been capable of finding the energy to hold on and hold preventing. Now I’ve fought the hardest battle in my life, and I hope you’ll stick with me and hold supporting me.”
Along with her fourth French Open, Swiatek received titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome in 2024.
She missed the Korea Open (16-22 September), China Open (25 September – 6 October) and Wuhan Open (7-13 October – she was suspended throughout the entry deadline).
The ITIA didn’t disclose her provisional suspension as a result of the participant efficiently appealed inside 10 days of the discover.
ITIA chief govt Karen Moorhouse mentioned: “As soon as the supply of the TMZ had been established, it turned clear that this was a extremely uncommon occasion of a contaminated product, which in Poland is a regulated drugs.
“Nonetheless, the product doesn’t have the identical designation globally, and the truth that a product is a regulated remedy in a single nation can’t of itself be adequate to keep away from any degree of fault. Bearing in mind the character of the remedy, and all of the circumstances, it does place that fault on the lowest finish of the size.”
Swiatek’s suspension comes after males’s world primary Jannik Sinner examined optimistic for clostebol in March.
Though the ITIA accepted there was “no fault or negligence” hooked up to the 23-year-old Italian, the World Anti-Doping Company (Wada) has launched an enchantment to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The Ladies’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) acknowledged the ITIA determination in an announcement and provided its “full assist” to Swiatek throughout a “troublesome time”.
“Iga has persistently demonstrated a powerful dedication to truthful play and upholding the ideas of fresh sport, and this unlucky incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating the usage of medicines and dietary supplements,” added the WTA.
“The WTA stays steadfast in our assist for a clear sport and the rigorous processes that shield the integrity of competitors.
“We additionally emphasise that athletes should take each precaution to confirm the protection and compliance of all merchandise they use, as even unintentional publicity to prohibited substances can have important penalties.”
