World quantity two and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month suspension after testing optimistic for a banned substance.
The 23-year-old reigning French Open champion examined optimistic for a coronary heart remedy, trimetazidine (TMZ), in an out-of-competition pattern in August 2024, when she was world primary.
The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) accepted that it was brought on by contamination of the regulated non-prescription remedy melatonin, manufactured and offered in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep points.
Swiatek’s degree of fault was subsequently thought-about to be on the lowest finish of the vary for ‘No Important Fault or Negligence’.
“Within the final two-and-a-half months I used to be topic to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence,” she mentioned on Instagram.
“The one optimistic doping check in my profession, exhibiting unbelievably low degree of a banned substance I’ve by no means heard about earlier than, put all the things I’ve labored so arduous for my whole life into query.
“Each me and my crew needed to take care of large stress and anxiousness. Now all the things has been rigorously defined, and with a clear slate I can return to what I like most.”
Swiatek was provisionally suspended from 12 September earlier than efficiently interesting, lacking three tournaments.
The Polish participant appealed the provisional suspension on 22 September, notifying an impartial tribunal that the supply of the optimistic check had been recognized as a contaminated medication manufactured in her dwelling nation.
After testing confirmed Swiatek’s account, the ITIA supplied her a one-month suspension which she accepted on Wednesday.
As a result of her provisional suspension was lifted on 4 October, Swiatek’s interval of ineligibility will finish on 4 December 2024.
The Pole was additionally pressured to forfeit the prize cash from her run to the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, the event that instantly adopted the check.
“I admit this example hit me arduous as a result of all my life I strived to have a profession that could possibly be an instance for generations to return,” mentioned Swiatek.
“I’ve a way this example might undermine the picture I have been constructing for years, which is why I hope you’ll perceive I had no management over it and will do nothing to forestall this unlucky flip of occasions.
“With out my supporters I’m not certain I’d have been capable of finding the power to hold on and preserve preventing. Now I’ve fought the hardest battle in my life, and I hope you’ll stick with me and preserve supporting me.”
Swiatek missed the Korea Open (16-22 September), China Open (25 September – 6 October) and Wuhan Open (7-13 October – she was suspended through the entry deadline).
The ITIA didn’t disclose her provisional suspension as a result of the participant efficiently appealed inside 10 days of the discover.
ITIA chief government Karen Moorhouse mentioned: “As soon as the supply of the TMZ had been established, it grew to become clear that this was a extremely uncommon occasion of a contaminated product, which in Poland is a regulated medication.
“Nonetheless, the product doesn’t have the identical designation globally, and the truth that a product is a regulated remedy in a single nation can not of itself be ample to keep away from any degree of fault. Making an allowance for the character of the remedy, and all of the circumstances, it does place that fault on the lowest finish of the dimensions.”
Swiatek’s suspension comes after males’s world primary Jannik Sinner examined optimistic for clostebol in March.
Though the ITIA accepted there was “no fault or negligence” connected to the 23-year-old Italian, the World Anti-Doping Company (Wada) has launched an enchantment to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The Girls’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) acknowledged the ITIA resolution in an announcement and supplied its “full help” to Swiatek throughout a “tough time”.
“Iga has constantly demonstrated a powerful dedication to truthful play and upholding the rules of fresh sport, and this unlucky incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating using drugs and dietary supplements,” the WTA mentioned.
“The WTA stays steadfast in our help for a clear sport and the rigorous processes that shield the integrity of competitors.
“We additionally emphasise that athletes should take each precaution to confirm the security and compliance of all merchandise they use, as even unintentional publicity to prohibited substances can have vital penalties.”
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