Polish tennis player Iga Świątek accepts one-month ban for anti-doping violation
The world No. 2 in women’s tennis, Iga Świątek, 23, has been handed a one-month suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ) during an out-of-competition test in August 2024, according to a statement from the ITIA, as reported by a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
The ITIA confirmed that the violation was unintentional, caused by contamination in a regulated melatonin product Świątek used for jet lag and sleep issues. Investigations included interviews, analysis by two WADA-accredited laboratories, and verification by independent scientific experts, all of which supported Świątek’s explanation of the contamination. Due to the circumstances, her level of fault was deemed minimal, and she accepted the sanction on November 27, 2024.
Świątek was provisionally suspended on September 12, 2024, which caused her to miss three tournaments: the WTA 500 Hana Bank Korea Open, WTA 1000 China Open, and WTA 1000 Wuhan Open. This provisional suspension, lasting until October 4, 2024, was credited toward her one-month ban, leaving only eight days of ineligibility remaining, which will end on December 4, 2024.
Additionally, Świątek forfeited prize money from the Cincinnati Open, the tournament directly following the positive test. The case began when Świątek’s urine sample, provided on August 12, 2024, tested positive for low levels of TMZ, a non-Specified substance prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP). The ITIA issued a pre-charge notice for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Article 2.1 (presence of a Prohibited Substance) and/or Article 2.2 (use without a Therapeutic Use Exemption). Analysis of the samples confirmed the initial findings.
Świątek appealed the provisional suspension on September 22, citing a regulated non-prescription medical product, authorized in Poland, as the source of contamination. Independent testing by the WADA-accredited Sports Medicine Research & Testing Laboratory in Utah confirmed the contamination, and the ITIA did not oppose lifting the provisional suspension, which was granted on October 4, 2024. As the appeal succeeded within 10 days, the provisional suspension was not publicly disclosed.
ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse described the case as an “unusual instance of a contaminated product”, emphasizing the importance of due diligence when using supplements and medications. She noted that Świątek’s fault was at the lowest end of the scale, but the case highlights the strict liability nature of anti-doping rules and the need for players to take precautions.
Świątek’s ban comes shortly after Jannik Sinner was involved in a doping scandal during his US Open 2024 victory, where he defeated Taylor Fritz in the final. It was revealed that Sinner tested positive for an anabolic agent twice in March but avoided a ban after an independent tribunal accepted his claim of unintentional contamination.
In late September, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking a new investigation and requesting a ban of one to two years.
Sinner is currently ranked world No. 1 in singles by the ATP, and is the first Italian to reach the top ranking.
