Iga Swiatek tells the truth about how other players treated her after doping row came out

The aftermath of doping accusations fell heavy on WTA World No. 2 Iga Swiatek. Days after her defeat to Coco Gauff at the United Cup finals, the Pole opened up on how members of the tennis community treated her after news of her one-month doping ban emerged in November 2024.

The ITIA provisionally suspended Swiatek for a month after she tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine 10 days after her 2024 Paris Olympics showdown. The WTA star opposed the result saying it was because of a sleep aid medication purchased by her psychologist from a Polish pharmacy. The provisional ban was made public after the ITIA cleared her and she served the remaining eight days after her successful appeal.

In a press conference ahead of the 2025 Australian Open first round, the WTA star unveiled emotional details of the phase when players like Nick Kyrgios and others criticized her.

"Having no control over this case really freaked me out a bit. But in the locker room, I mean, the girls are great. I already saw on this exhibition in Abu Dhabi that they are really supportive. Most of them even approached me. They're like, 'Hey, how can we avoid this? Is there any way that we can be more careful?'" Iga Swiatek said.

"They are worried this can happen to them, as well. So in the locker room, yeah, it's been great. There are many top players - I'm not going to say names - that really support. I really appreciate that, because it make me feel better when I came back and I didn't know how it was going to be."

In November, Iga Swiatek shared an Instagram video explaining the ill effects of a positive doping test. She addressed the extent of the blow and how its aftermath made her anxious.

The WTA star accepted the provisional ban and turned down the prize money secured in Cincinnati where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

---

Iga Swiatek applauds Aryna Sabalenka's "game" in Melbourne

Iga Swiatek (L) and Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals 2024 - Previews - Source: Getty

Iga Swiatek is looking forward to kick off her Australian Open campaign with a showdown against Katerina Siniakova. Although she hopes to make things work this time, the 2024 AO campaign brought a big shock for her.

After reaching the third round with a victory over Danielle Collins, the Pole faced a disappointing defeat against Linda Noskova. This year, she talked about rival Aryna Sabalenka while discussing her prospects (via Australian Open):

“I guess it depends how you play, as well. We get confident when we see our game. Aryna has obviously a great game to play here. It's a two-week tournament. Even if you struggle at the beginning, you don't know what's going to happen later. You might get a perfect feeling anyway, or the opposite. I guess we'll see."

Swiatek will begin her 2025 Australian Open campaign on Monday, January 13. The draw has placed her known rival Siniakova against her, and fans can expect a high-stakes showdown ahead.