"The fact that I received such a punishment is a formality" - Iga Swiatek says she'd prefer doping test report to read "not guilty"

Days after her recent doping row, Iga Swiatek has shared insights into her side of the story. The World No. 2 received a one-month suspension after her sample failed a doping test during this year’s Asian swing.

The Pole, who was at “no significant fault” in the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s final doping report after testing positive for the banned substance Trimetazidine (TMZ) in the out-of-competition anti-doping test, said this week in an interview that she would have liked for the final finding to have read “not guilty.”

She added, however, that all that was "paperwork" and the most important part for her was to be ready for the next year with a “clean slate.” Making an appearance on the TV show "Fakty po Faktach" on TVN24, she said (via Eurosport),

"I would prefer it to say 'not guilty' but I admit that for me it's just paperwork and bureaucracy. For me, the most important thing was to be able to start the next season with a clean slate and simply focus on the game. Since I got the information that my suspension would end in just over a week, I have accepted this state of affairs in a sense."

Discussing her one-month ban, Swiatek said she viewed the sanction as a mere “formality”. She added that the punishment was dictated by “procedures” and that she had proved her innocence in front of the panel.

"The fact that I received such a punishment is a formality.They had to follow their own rules, because it's not like a person was judging me, we had to follow procedures all the time. Even this decision regarding this month's suspension was also dictated by procedures."

Notably, the Pole had attributed her positive test to a pain medication that she took to tackle jetlag. Following an investigation, she was let off with a one-month suspension.

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Iga Swiatek looks ahead to the 2025 season

Iga Swiatek last played at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. (Source: Getty)

Iga Swiatek will now look for a positive return to the Tour in the 2025 season. She will be defending a bunch of points at the start of the year in Australia.

The World No. 2 had participated in the United Cup to start her 2024 season, before playing at the Australian Open. She, however, lost in the third round to Linda Noskova and will have her mind set on improving on that result in a little over a month.

Swiatek also held on to the World No. 1 ranking for the better part of 2024 before losing it to Aryna Sabalenka. She will also be keen on regaining the top spot next year.