Iga Swiatek accepts one-month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine | Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek, world no. 2 women’s tennis player, has been banned for a month after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024.

In a statement on Thursday, the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which governs the tennis anti-doping program, ruled that Swiatek’s anti-doping rules were not deliberate and that she bore no significant fault or negligence for the positive test at the “low end”. of the row” and they imposed a one-month ban.

The ITIA accepted that Swiatek’s positive doping test was caused by her tainted medication, melatonin, which Swiatek had taken for jet lag and sleep problems.

Swiatek tested positive for TMZ in an out-of-competition urine sample taken on August 12, 2024, and she received a three-week provisional suspension between September 12 and October 4. Swiatek withdrew from three tournaments during that period – Korea Open, China Open and Wuhan Open – citing personal reasons;

After her three-week absence, Swiatek successfully appealed her temporary suspension and she returned for the final two tournaments of the season, the WTA Finals and the Billie Jean King Cup.

Over the past few years, Swiatek has established himself as the most successful tennis player of his generation. The 23-year-old Pole has won five grand slam titles, including four of the last five titles at Roland Garros, and she has been the no. 1 for 125 weeks, including most of the 2024 season.

In a statement, ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said: “Once the source of TMZ had been established, it became clear that this was a very unusual case of a contaminated product which in Poland is a regulated medicine.

“However, the product does not have the same designation globally, and the fact that a product is a regulated medicinal product in one country cannot in itself be sufficient to avoid errors. Taking into account the nature of the medicine and all the circumstances, it places this error at the lowest end of the scale.

“This case is an important reminder to tennis players of the strict responsibilities of the World Anti-Doping Code and the importance of players carefully considering the use of nutritional supplements and medications. It is critical that appropriate due diligence is undertaken to minimize the risk of unintended ADRVs like this one.

The Women’s Tennis Association, meanwhile, acknowledged the results of Swiatek’s anti-doping case and offered their support to Swiatek: “The WTA fully supports the Iga at this difficult time. The Iga has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to fair play and upholding the principles of clean sport, and this unfortunate incident highlights the challenges athletes face when navigating the use of medications and supplements.

“The WTA remains steadfast in our support for a clean sport and the rigorous processes that protect the integrity of competition. We also emphasize that athletes must take every precaution to verify the safety and compliance of all products they use, as even accidental exposure for prohibited substances can have significant consequences.”

Swiatek’s anti-doping case is the second high-profile case in tennis in the past four months, after Jannik Sinner, the men’s no. 1, received a plea of ​​no fault or negligence and no suspension in August after testing positive for the banned substance clostebol in March.