Iga Swiatek reveals the aftermath of facing the doping charges

Iga Swiatek, despite being at the top of the WTA Rankings almost throughout the season, faced a hard year. The top-ranked Pole has been named in a doping violation and is facing a month-long suspension by the ITIA. While Swiatek has accepted the terms of the verdict and the subsequent suspension by the tennis body, the case has stirred significant controversy. Swiatek is not the only one who tested positive for a banned substance this season. The World No. 1 on the ATP Tour, Jannik Sinner, faced a similar fate earlier this year. With two of the leading stars landing in serious allegations, the ITIA has come under remarkable scrutiny. Now, with reactions coming in from everywhere, Swiatek has presented her side of the story.

"As if someone had died": Iga Swiatek reveals her reaction to being named in the doping violation case

Iga Swiatek, earlier this season, tested positive for trimetazidine, commonly known as TMZ, a banned substance. The Polish star claimed that she was entirely unaware of the substance and its nature. Later, she successfully appealed that the TMZ entered her system due to contaminated medication, melatonin, which she used for sleep issues and jet lag. The ITIA paid heed to her claims and sanctioned the top-ranked player with a ‘no significant fault’ verdict. However, Iga Swiatek was stripped of her prize money from the Cincinnati Open and missed the Asian swing of the WTA Tour as per her provisional ban. Moreover, with the one-month-long ban in effect, the Pole will complete the sentence within the off-season before the 2025 season kicks off with the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Now, in a recent interaction, the 22-year-old Pole has opened up about facing serious charges. Swiatek explained that her reaction to being named in the doping violation case was not composed at all. The reigning Roland Garros champion, furthermore, noted that "there was a lot of crying," as her team highlighted that her reaction suggested someone had died.

"My reaction was very violent. It was a mixture of incomprehension and panic. There was a lot of crying," she revealed. "My managers said that my reaction was as if someone had died or something serious had happened to their health," Swiatek added. "I am glad that I was not alone, because I could give them my phone and show them what happened."

While the ITIA accepted that Swiatek had taken the banned substance unknowingly, the association charged her under the ‘no significant fault or negligence’ clause. The ban laid by the ITIA on Swiatek commenced on September 12 and lasted until October 4. Within this period, Swiatek missed three WTA tournaments: the Wuhan Open, the Japan Open, and the China Open. Her absence from the Tour, coupled with her subsequent early exit from the ATP Finals, allowed Aryna Sabalenka to snatch the year-end No. 1 title from the Pole. However, with Swiatek completing the remaining eight days of her suspension during the off-season, she will be cleared to compete in the next season without any hurdles.