Women’s Tennis Star Iga Swiatek Accepts One-Month Suspension for Banned Substance
Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, has accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication also known as TMZ, in an out-of-competition test in August.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Swiatek’s explanation that the positive test was caused by contamination of a nonprescription medication, melatonin, which she uses to manage jet lag and sleep issues. The agency described her level of fault as “at the lowest end of the range for no significant fault or negligence.”
As a result of the suspension, Swiatek will miss a total of eight days of competition, and will be cleared to return on Monday. She will also have to forfeit $158,944 in prize money from the Cincinnati Open, which she played in after failing the test.
In a video message on Instagram, Swiatek expressed her relief and relief at the outcome, stating that the experience was “the worst of my life.” She thanked the ITIA for confirming her innocence and expressed her enthusiasm to return to the sport she loves.
This is not the first high-profile doping case in tennis, with Jannik Sinner being cleared in August after testing positive for a steroid in March. Swiatek’s case will serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in anti-doping measures in professional sports.