“Iga Swiatek” handed one-month doping ban

World number two tennis player and French Open champion Iga Swiatek has received a one-month doping suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medication. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the suspension on November 28, 2024, following a positive test from August 2024 when Swiatek was ranked world number one.

The ITIA accepted Swiatek's explanation that the violation was accidental, resulting from contaminated melatonin, a non-prescription medication she was taking for jet lag and sleep issues in Poland. The agency categorized her fault level at the lowest end of the spectrum, citing "No Significant Fault or Negligence."

The 23-year-old Polish star described the investigation as "the most difficult experience of my life," expressing the emotional toll of uncertainty during the two-and-a-half-month proceedings. Her provisional suspension, which lasted from September 22 to October 4, caused her to miss three major tournaments, including the Korea Open and China Open.

Swiatek will serve the remaining eight days of her suspension before being eligible to return to competition. She has vowed to return stronger, stating, "Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most."

The incident has resulted in Swiatek forfeiting approximately $158,944 in prize money and follows another high-profile doping case involving men's world number one Jannik Sinner, who tested positive for clostebol but was later cleared, though WADA has appealed this decision.

The Women's Tennis Association has expressed support for Swiatek, emphasizing her commitment to fair play and highlighting the challenges athletes face with supplement and medication compliance. ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse stressed the importance of athletes exercising extreme caution with supplements and medications, even those available without prescription.