"Corrupt sport willing to bend the rules"- Fans fuming as Iga Swiatek follows Jannik Sinner in testing positive for doping without major repercussions

Tennis fans reacted to the news of Iga Swiatek receiving a one-month suspension for testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ). The Pole's test results showed the presence of TMZ in an out-of-competition sample which was taken in August 2024, ahead of the Cincinnati Open.

Following the positive test, Swiatek was provisionally suspended from September 22 to October 4, 2024, causing her to miss the Asian Swing and forfeit the earnings she had accumulated in Cincinnati.

In response to her suspension, the former World No.1 appealed to the International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA), explaining that the positive test was due to contamination from a regulated non-prescription melatonin medication she had been using for jet lag and sleep problems.

The ITIA accepted Iga Swiatek's explanation for the presence of trimetazidine in her system, ruling that there was 'No Significant Fault or Negligence'. Consequently, on November 27, 2024, she was handed a one-month suspension, allowing her to return to competition in time for the 2025 Australian Open.

The news of Swiatek's positive test and subsequent suspension shocked tennis fans. They took to social media to share their opinions on the same.

One fan insinuated that Novak Djokovic will be next to test positive for a prohibited substance after Jannik Sinner and Swiatek did in the same year.

“Djokovic is next," a fan posted.

Another fan opined that as Sinner and Swiatek have used a prohibited substance once, they will again use it, as according to them "once a doper is always a doper."

“Same thing, same cheats. Once a doper, always a doper. No excuses," a fan wrote.

Some fans expressed disappointment in the perceived leniency shown towards Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner.

“Rules are rules unless you are Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek," a fan posted.

“So like Sinner, she gets away with it. Different rules for top players. Tennis has shown itself to be a corrupt sport that is willing to bend the rules for certain players . A disgrace tbh," a fan wrote.

Many fans stated that top players like Sinner and Swiatek testing positive for a prohibited substance in the same year and both their cases being kept in the dark was not a good look for tennis.

“Both world No.1's (Iga was at the time) testing positive for banned substances in the same year is crazy. They need to stop being so negligent," a fan wrote .

“What a year for tennis! Both World No. 1s have tested positive for prohibited substances and both cases have been kept in the dark. Not a good look at all for tennis!" a fan posted.

“Iga getting a month suspension for contaminated medication but sinner got 2 days after his physio supposedly accidentally contaminated him with a steroid spray that says DOPING in a big red circle that the anti-doping expert on their team apparently warned him about, hm," a fan wrote.

Iga Swiatek after testing positive for trimetazidine: “It was a blow for me, I was shocked"

Iga Swiatek speaking to the press [Source: Getty]

Iga Swiatek took to social media to address her positive test for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ) and subsequent one-month ban from the ITIA. She expressed that the positive test came as a shock to her.

“It was a blow for me. I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious. At first, I couldn't understand how that was even possible and where it came from," Swiatek said.

Swiatek admitted that neither she nor her team had ever heard of trimetazidine before, let alone knew of its existence.

"It turns out testing revealed historically lowest levels of trimetazidine, a substance I've never heard about before. I don't think I even knew it existed, I have never encountered it, nor did people around me," she added.

The 2024 season was a successful one for Iga Swiatek, as she secured five titles, including the 2024 French Open . She also represented Poland in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.