- The world number 2 completed 22 days of her one-month suspension in the fall
- The last eight days coincide with a period without tennis, so his suspension is practically already served.
- It was accepted that his failed drug test was caused by contaminated melatonin
Iga Swiatek admitted she feared a more negative reaction to her doping ban and sees no reason for the case to drag on.
The Pole received a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the angina drug trimetazidine, which the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted was caused by contamination of a medication Swiatek was taking to help combat jet lag.
It was the second high-profile doping case to hit the sport in a matter of months after world number one Jannik Sinner’s two failed tests, for which he did not receive a suspension.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed that decision and Sinner still has the threat of a suspension hanging over him, but Swiatek does not expect a similar outcome in his situation.
She served a brief interim suspension, causing her to miss three tournaments in the fall, before completing the suspension in the off-season once her punishment was announced.
Addressing the issue for the first time at a press conference ahead of the United Cup in Australia – the first tournament of the new season – Swiatek said of the possibility of a WADA appeal: “Well, I don’t think there’s any reason, because I didn’t play three tournaments.
World number two Iga Swiatek admitted she feared a more negative reaction to her doping ban.
The Pole received a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for angina, trimetazidine.
“I was suspended for a long time and lost the (world) number one because of that. I also know how the procedure worked, I gave every possible test and, honestly, there is not much more to do.
“So I don’t expect an appeal, but I have no influence on what’s going to happen.”
Like Sinner, Swiatek’s brief provisional suspension was not made public until the outcome of the case was determined, and the 23-year-old attributed her absence from the three tournaments to personal issues and a change in coach.
That led to further accusations of a two-tier system, with star names receiving preferential treatment, something the ITIA and tennis authorities strongly deny.
“I can say from the processes I went through and how I was treated from the beginning that it seemed fair to me,” Swiatek said.
“I trust the ITIA that in any case they will treat all players equally and fairly.”
Swiatek published a long video on social media explaining the case as soon as the result was made public.
Of the reaction, he said: “I think their response has been more positive than I thought.” I think that people, the majority, are understanding, and those who read the documents and know how the system works, know that I was not at fault and that I had no influence on what was happening.
Men’s world number one, Jannik Sinner, failed two tests, but was not sanctioned
‘I haven’t been on the Internet much. I try to just get on with my life and focus on different things, focus on preparing for the season and on tennis, because this is the best thing you can do after a case like that.
“But overall, the reaction in Poland, basically, because this is mostly what I read, has been quite supportive. I really appreciate it, because even when I missed the China swing and no one knew why, it wasn’t that easy .
‘So after the information about my case was published, I was afraid that most people would turn their backs on me. But I felt the support and it’s great.
‘Obviously there will be some negative comments and you won’t avoid that. I just have to accept that and honestly, I don’t care about them.’