Iga Swiatek shared she was ‘scared’ of hostile reactions to her doping ban. (Reuters)
Three months after she tested positive for a heart medication, trimetazidine (TMZ), later found to be due to contamination of a non-prescriptive drug, former world no. 1 and five-time major winner Iga Swiatek has shared how she was ‘scared’ of hostile reactions to her doping ban. The 23-year-old current world number two served a one-month suspension post the test and did not play in four tournaments during her ban by the world body.
“Overall, the reaction in Poland, because this is mostly what I read, has been pretty supportive. And I really, really appreciate that because even when I missed the China Swing and nobody knew why, it wasn’t so easy. So after the information about my case [was] released, I was scared that most people are going to turn their back on me. But I felt the support and it’s great,” Swiatek told the media ahead of the United Cup in Australia.
The-then world number one was tested ahead of the Cincinnati Open and it was revealed by International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that the 23-year-old would face a provisional ban. According to the agency, Swiatek had tested positive for low amounts of trimetazidine, a banned heart medication known as TMZ in a test held on August 10, ten days after she lost against Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open. Swiatek would play in the US Open, where she lost to Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals and was told about the one-month suspension on September 12.
Swiatek then missed Korea Open, China Open and Wuhan Open and also fortified her prize money from the Cincinnati Open. Later ITIA accepted that the positive test was due to the contamination of the non-prescription medication Melatonin, a medicine which the Polish player had taken for jet lag and sleep issues. As per the ITIA report, the former world number one gave a list of 14 medications or supplements she was using. The Polish player though did play in the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup last month and had faced 22 days of suspension prior to that. Swiatek’s ban ended on December 4 and the world number 2 believes that there would not be an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“I was suspended for a long time and I lost [world] number one because of that. I also know how the procedure worked and I gave every possible evidence. There is not much, honestly, to do more. So I’m not expecting an appeal, but I have no influence on what’s going to happen,” Swiatek said.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
