Iga Swiatek banned after testing positive for illegal substance

Iga Swiatek, the current world number two in tennis, shocked the tennis community by receiving a one-month suspension after testing positive for the heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample in August 2024, when she was the top-seeded player.

An investigation revealed that the source was a tainted regulated drug, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed on Thursday. It therefore ruled Swiatek bore no significant fault or negligence for the failed test. The ITIA only offered Swiatek a month's suspension because her level of fault is regarded as being at the lowest end of the range for "No Significant Fault or Negligence," which she has now accepted on November 28.

The five-time Grand Slam champion was suspended provisionally from September 12 until she successfully appealed, which prevented her from competing in the Korea Open (16-22 September), China Open (25 September – 6 October) and Wuhan Open (7-13 October – she was suspended during the entry deadline).

The ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said: “Once the source of the TMZ had been established, it became clear that this was a highly unusual instance 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 medication in one country cannot of itself be sufficient to avoid any level of fault.”

Just a few months ago, before the Cincinnati Open, current world number one Jannik Sinner was embroiled in a huge controversy over allegedly using illegal substances. Just when it seemed like everyone had moved on, another tennis star finds herself in a similar situation.

On September 22, Swiatek filed an appeal against the temporary suspension, informing an impartial panel that the tainted medication produced in Poland was the cause of the positive test. Since her provisional suspension was lifted on 4 October, Swiątek’s ban ends on 4 December 2024.

Additionally, the Pole was compelled to forfeit the winnings from her run to the Cincinnati Open semifinals, which took place right after the test. However, Iga Swiatek is expected to participate in the 2025 Australian Open.

Cover Credits - Tennis.com