Iga Swiatek faces one-month suspension after positive doping test
- Iga Swiatek failed an out-of-competition drug test in August for trimetazidine, leading to a one-month suspension.
- The ITIA determined that her positive result came from a contaminated product, with her fault assessed at the lowest level for negligence.
- Swiatek's case underscores the strict liability that tennis players face regarding doping violations and highlights the risks of consuming supplements.
In August 2023, Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine, a heart medication. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) assessed her situation, acknowledging that the positive result was unintentional and caused by contaminated melatonin tablets Swiatek had taken for jet lag and sleep issues. This determination led to her admission of the anti-doping rule violation and her acceptance of a one-month suspension from professional tennis. Although she was provisionally suspended from September 22 to October 4, her appeal clarified that the contamination was not due to negligence. As a result, she was cleared to return to competition after serving the remainder of her suspension from October 26 until December 4, 2023. Additionally, Swiatek was fined almost $159,000, which corresponded to her earnings from the Cincinnati Open held shortly after her positive test. The case adds to a growing list of doping controversies in tennis, with the ITIA emphasizing the strict liability under the World Anti-Doping Code, thus reminding players of the critical importance of understanding the substances they consume.