'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Iga Swiatek this week revealed the fortune she spent to prove her innocence, the sums approximating $70,000 on lawyers and $15,000 on opinions, an amount most players would find difficult to afford. Swiatek was handed a one-month ban after she tested positive for Trimetazidine, a substance on the WADA's prohibited list.
Swiatek tested positive in August, in an out-of-competition sample. On November 28, 2024, the ITIA announced the Pole's one-month suspension from the tour. Swiatek's appeal to the independent tribunal argued that contamination happened from a non-prescription melatonin medication, Trimetazidine, which she took for sleep issues and jet lag.
As Swiatek's period of ineligibility ended on December 4, 2024, she sat for an interview with Anita Werner for the Polish TV program "Fakty po Faktach." When asked about her monetary investment, the five-time Grand Slam winner said she spent a fortune to prove herself innocent. Adding that she does not remember the exact amounts, Swiatek said (via Eurosport),
Trending
"I spent about 70 thousand dollars on a lawyer, 15 thousand euros on expert opinions and tests. In addition, there is the loss of the financial prize for Cincinnati, but - to be honest - it did not matter to me" [translated from Polish].
She also highlighted that athletes not as financially stable as her would face difficulty handling such expensive cases.
"The most important thing was to prove my innocence. I am giving these amounts so that people will be aware of the problems faced by athletes who do not earn as much money as I do on the court and practice disciplines where earnings are much lower."
In the wake of the controversy surrounding her ban, Swiatek received criticism from Australian inactive player and broadcaster Nick Kyrgios, who called her explanation an "excuse." However, she also got support from players like Andrea Petkovic, who appreciated the Pole for being vocal about the controversy.
Iga Swiatek shared glimpses of her training after addressing the doping controversy
Iga Swiatek had a mixed season in 2024, clinching her fourth consecutive French Open, the Madrid Open, and Italian Open titles but faced back-to-back defeats in the latter part of her season. Before the doping row took the internet by storm in November, she parted with her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and joined hands with Wim Fissette later in October.
After ITIA announced her suspension in November, the Pole took to Instagram to address the doping ordeal. Following that, on December 2, 2024, she shared a video compilation of her gym training with her new coach, in anticipation of the 2025 season.
Though the ITIA decided that Iga Swiatek bore "No Significant Fault or Negligence," she had to forfeit her Cincinnati Open prize money and miss three tournaments in 2024.
