French Open champion Iga Swiatek has been handed a one-month suspension for a positive doping test but avoided a harsher penalty after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted her explanation of unintentional use. The ITIA announced the decision on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Polish star tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a prohibited substance, in an out-of-competition sample collected in August 2024. Swiatek attributed the presence of the substance to contamination in a regulated non-prescription melatonin medication she had been taking for jet lag and sleep issues.
In its statement, the ITIA acknowledged that the violation was not deliberate. “The contamination of a regulated non-prescription medication (melatonin), manufactured and sold in Poland, was the cause,” the agency said. “The violation was therefore not intentional, and the player’s level of fault was considered to be at the lowest end of the range for ‘No Significant Fault or Negligence.’”
Suspension Details
Swiatek accepted the one-month suspension, which has been backdated to include her provisional suspension from September 22 to October 4. During that period, she missed three tournaments, leaving only eight days remaining on her sanction.
The ITIA also ruled that Swiatek would forfeit the prize money and ranking points earned at the Cincinnati Open, where she finished as runner-up to world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek’s Response
The five-time Grand Slam champion has not publicly commented on the ruling but is expected to resume her competitive schedule once the remaining days of her suspension are served.
Expert Reactions
Swiatek’s case has sparked mixed reactions within the tennis world. While some argue the ITIA’s leniency is justified given the circumstances, others stress the importance of stricter vigilance among players to avoid such situations.
Swiatek’s swift resolution of the matter and her cooperation with the ITIA reflect her commitment to upholding integrity in the sport. As she looks ahead to returning to the court, the tennis world will be watching closely to see how she rebounds from this challenging episode.
