Former British No.1 hammers Iga Swiatek for not showing responsibility amidst doping row
Former World No. 4 Greg Rusedski has criticized Iga Swiatek over her doping case. He urged her to take more responsibility for what happened. Rusedski’s comments referred to comparisons between her situation and Jannik Sinner ’s case, which surfaced on social media.
Swiatek received a one-month suspension after failing a drugs test in August 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that the five-time Grand Slam champion tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medication.
The ITIA ruled that Swiatek was not at fault because the substance was unintentional. The contamination came from melatonin, a non-prescription medication she used for jet lag and sleep. Her suspension lasted from September 12 to October 4, during which she missed three events, including the China Open and Wuhan Open.
Initially, Swiatek cited personal reasons, fatigue, and a coaching split as the reasons for skipping the tournaments. She returned for the WTA Finals in Riyadh after successfully appealing her initial provisional ban.
Will Iga Swiatek play Australian Open 2025?
World No.2 Iga Swiatek is gearing up for the 2025 Australian Open, set to begin on January 12. Her best result at the tournament so far was a semi-final finish in 2022. Before heading to Melbourne, she will represent Poland in the United Cup in Sydney in late December.
Swiatek recently served a suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medication. The positive test came from a sample taken in August 2024. The contamination was traced to melatonin, a non-prescription medication she used for jet lag and sleep issues.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted her explanation and noted her low level of fault. Her suspension began after her US Open quarterfinal loss and caused her to miss the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open.
With the suspension ending on December 4, Swiatek will have over three weeks to prepare. She looks forward to returning to competition and starting the new season fresh, aiming for strong performances in Sydney and Melbourne.