A tennis insider recently reacted to the lack of 'transparency' in Iga Swiatek's withdrawals after a shocking one-month doping ban was handed to the Pole. The insider also questioned how WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) would react to this news.
The tennis world has gone into a frenzy after it was revealed by the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) that World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month ban for testing positive for the banned substance, trimetazidine (TMZ).
The test was an out-of-competition sample taken in August 2024 and the ITIA reached the verdict that Swiatek bore 'No significant Fault or Negligence'.
Tennis Insider Jose Morgado took to X (Formerly Twitter) to chronicle the details of the case and highlighted how the 23-year-old was already under a provisional suspension when she missed the Asian Swing.
"Wow. The ITIA announces that Iga Świątek has accepted a 1-month suspension after testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample in August 2024. ITIA investigation determines source was a contaminated regulated medication which results in a No Significant Fault or Negligence. She already was under a provisional suspension in September/October when she missed the Asian swing. Will play the Australian Open. Bombshell," he wrote.
He also was curious to see WADA's position, who have appealed Jannik Sinner's 'No Fault or Negligence' verdict.
"Curious to see WADA’s position now."
Morgado also brought back how Wuhan Open's official page stated that Iga Swiatek won't be competing at their event since she was 'taking some time after making changes in her team'. He pointed out the lack of 'transparency':
"This is one of the reasons cited by an official tournament account for Iga Swiatek's withdrawal. Again, not much transparency in these situations. Like in the Sinner's case, I hope we move on and they can play as tennis is MUCH BETTER with both of them, but all of this is a terrible look for the sport."
Iga Swiatek breaks silence on doping ordeal
Iga Swiatek took to Instagram to break her silence on this entire ordeal and wanted to be 'transparent' with her fans. She said:
"Hi everyone. The topic I want to share with you today is a tough one, one I was not able to discuss in the last 2.5 months. But I finally can, so I hope this video will explain a lot. I want to be transparent with you and I want you to understand what's been happening to me recently."
Swiatek revealed she found out about her positive test on September 12 after the North American hard-court swing. She also added how this situation made her 'anxious'.
"On September 12 I learned that my anti-doping test sample, collected on August 12 before the Cincinnati tournament, tested positive. 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."
Commenting about the substance, the Pole said that she never knew about the existence of trimetazidine before her positive test.
"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. So I had a strong sense of injustice, and these first few weeks were really chaotic. We instantly reacted and cooperated with the ITIA."
Here's her video message.
During the North American hard-court swing, Iga Swiatek semifinals of the Cincinnati Open and the quarterfinals of the US Open. She qualified for the WTA Finals where she was knocked out in the group stages and lost to Aryna Sabalenka in their battle for the year-end World No. 1.