Tennis superstar Iga Swiatek has been hit with a one-month doping ban after testing positive for banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) handed down the verdict on Thursday.
“The ITIA accepted that the positive test was caused by the contamination of a regulated non-prescription medication (melatonin), manufactured and sold in Poland that the player had been taking for jet lag and sleep issues, and that the violation was therefore not intentional,” a statement read.
“This followed interviews with the player and their entourage, investigations, and analysis from two WADA-accredited laboratories.”
Swiatek tested positive for TMZ during an out-of-competition sample taken in August.
Because TMZ is a non-specified substance and Swiatek did not hold a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), she received a mandatory provisional suspension on September 12.
As a result, Swiatek was forced to miss the Korea Open, the China Open and the Wuhan Open.
The Polish star appealed the provisional suspension on September 22 and later informed the independent tribunal chair she identified a ‘regulated non-perscription melatonin medicine’, which was made and regulated in Poland, was contaminated with TMZ.
An independent and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory in Utah confirmed the contamination.
After the testing confirmed Swiatek’s claims, the ITIA granted her provisional suspension to be lifted on October 4.
Swiatek’s successful appeal within 10 days of her notice also meant her case was never publicly disclosed.
She will be free to compete on December 4, leaving her free to continue preparations for the 2025 Australian Open.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Swiatek opened up on what she described as ‘the worst experience of my life’.
“In the last 2.5 months I was subject to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence,” Swiatek wrote.
“The only positive doping test in my career, showing unbelievably low level of a banned substance I’ve never heard about before, put everything I’ve worked so hard for my entire life into question.
“Both me and my Team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety.
“Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever.
“I’m leaving with you a long video and right now I’m just relieved it’s over. I want to be open with you, even though I know I did nothing wrong. Out of respect for my fans and the public, I’m sharing all the details of this longest and toughest tournament of my career.
Swiatek addressed the controversy on her Instagram[/caption]
“My biggest hope is that you will stay with me.”
News of Swiatek’s ban comes months after men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner was found to have failed two drugs tests earlier this year.
The Italian tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol in his urine during the Indian Wells tournament in March.
A tribunal accepted that the two failed tests were caused due to contamination through a massage from his physiotherapist.
His lawyers said it amounted to ‘less than a billionth of a gram’.
It was claimed that Sinner was contaminated by a healing spray used to treat a cut suffered by his physio, Giacomo Naldi.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed on Tuesday that Sinner bears “no fault or negligence”.
Despite the tribunal’s findings, Australian star Nick Kyrgios called for Sinner to receive a lengthy suspension.
“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned,” Kyrgios wrote on X.
“You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years.
“Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice.”