The day before his entry into the United Cup with Poland, Iga Swiatek spoke at a press conference about his suspension for doping.
The Polish Iga Swiatek spoke the day before her entry into the United Cup, the former world number 1 notably returned to her suspension for doping. “The reaction in Poland, from what I read, was very positive. I really appreciate that, when I missed a tournament in China, no one knew why, it wasn't that easy.”she explained.
As a reminder, Swiatek, 23, tested positive for trimetazidine in a sample taken out of competition in August, but the ITIA, which manages tennis' anti-doping program, admitted that the result was due to contamination of her medication for sleep. She was provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4, missing three tournaments, and served the final eight days of her ban by competing in the November WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Swiatek had won five titles this season, including a third consecutive French Open, before the suspension. Swiatek withdrew from the China Open for personal reasons and missed the Canada and Korea Opens due to fatigue. “After the information about my case came out, I was afraid that most people would turn their backs on me, but I felt the support and it’s great”she added.
Swiatek-Sinner linked destinies
Swiatek's case marks another embarrassing episode for the sport this year, after the top men's player, Italian Jannik Sinner, failed two doping tests in March. He was cleared by an independent tribunal that accepted his explanation of unintentional contamination, but news of the tests broke days before the US Open, casting an unwelcome spotlight on the incident.
Swiatek admitted that the reaction had not been entirely positive, as some players alleged that there were double standards in the way doping cases of top players are handled compared to those of lesser competitors. well classified. “It is obvious that there will be negative comments and we cannot avoid it”said Swiatek, who lost her top ranking during the suspension. “It’s something that will always follow us, whatever happens in our lives”.
