Iga Swiatek handed suspension testing positive for banned substance

The International Tennis Integrity Agency [ITIA] announced on Thursday that Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, had tested positive for banned substance trimetazidine in August 2024.

Swiatek was found to be of "no fault or negligence" after the ITIA accepted that the substance was not taken intentionally and was instead caused by the contamination of non-prescription medication the Pole had been using for jet lag and sleep issues.

The world No. 2 was provisionally suspended from September 12 until October 4, during which she missed three tournaments, including two WTA 1000 events - the China Open and Wuhan Open.

The Pole initially cited personal reasons. fatigue, and her coaching split from Tomasz Wiktorowski for her Asian swing withdrawals, though returned for the WTA Finals in Riyadh having successfully appealed her initial suspension.

With Beijing, Wuhan, and the Korea Open in Seoul factored into the 23-year-old's suspension, Swiatek has just eight days of her ban left to serve â- meaning she can compete at the upcoming Australian Open in January.

However, she will have to forfeit her Cincinnati Open prize money, with the event taking place directly after Swiatek's positive test on August 12.

In a statement, the ITIA said: "The ITIA accepted that the positive test was caused by the contamination of a regulated non-prescription medication [melatonin], manufactured and sold in Poland that the player had been taking for jet lag and sleep issues, and that the violation was therefore not intentional.

"This followed interviews with the player and their entourage, investigations, and analysis from two WADA-accredited laboratories.

"In relation to the Player's level of fault, as the contaminated product was a regulated non-prescription medication in the player's country of origin and purchase and considering all the circumstances of its use (and other contaminated product cases under the World Anti-Doping Code), the player's level of fault was considered to be at the lowest end of the range for 'No Significant Fault or Negligence'.

"The ITIA therefore offered a one-month suspension to SwiÄ…tek and on 27 November 2024, the player, currently ranked number two in women's singles, formally admitted the ADRV and accepted the sanction.

"The player was provisionally suspended from 12 September until 4 October, missing three tournaments, which counts towards the sanction, leaving eight days remaining. In addition, the player also forfeits prize money from the Cincinnati Open, the tournament directly following the test."

Swiatek is next set to be in action representing Poland at the United Cup, which begins on December 27.

The former world No. 1 is the second high-profile star to be dragged into a controversy this year, following Jannik Sinner testing positive for clostebol in March.

READ MORE: Bridgitte Hartley ready to serve another four-year term on the Athletes' Commission