Iga Swiatek has released an emotional statement explaining her failed doping test, which has resulted in a one-month suspension.
The world No 2 tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) after giving a sample during competition in August this year.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) investigated the positive test and accepted it was caused by contamination of non-prescribed melatonin.
Swiatek was deemed to have been at ‘no significant fault or negligence’, resulting in the short suspension.
The Polish tennis star was provisionally suspended on September 12 before successfully appealing, although she missed three tournaments during the Asian swing.
The provisional suspension was lifted on October 4, meaning Swiatek will be able to return next month.
Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month suspension
Swiatek posted an emotional clip addressing the doping suspension on social media where she attempted to explain what happened.
“Hi everyone! The topic I want to share with you today is a tough one, one I was not able to discuss in the last two and a half months. But I finally can so I hope this video will explain a lot,” she began.
“I want to be transparent with you and I want you to understand what’s been happening to me recently.
“On September 12 I learned that my anti-doping test sample, collected on August 12 – so before the Cincinnati tournament, tested positive.
“It was a blow for me. I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious.
“At first, I couldn’t understand how that was even possible and where it came from.
“It turns out testing revealed historically lowest levels of trimetazidine, a substance I’ve never heard about before.
“I don’t think I even knew it existed. I have never encountered it, nor did people around me. “So I had a strong sense of injustice and these first few weeks were really chaotic.
“We instantly reacted and cooperated with the ITIA.
“The detected concentration, which was extremely low, suggested – or rather made it obvious – that either the sample was contaminated, or a supplement or medication that I was taking was contaminated, which is why we focused on running tests on all nutritional supplements and medications I was taking.
“The tests showed that melatonin I’ve been using for a long time – the batch I had on me and had used before the Cincinnati tournament – was contaminated during manufacturing.
“It was a shock to hear, but it also explained a lot and locating the source is key in these cases, which is why we had to prove that the medication was in fact contaminated.
“Melatonin is necessary for me because all my travelling, jetlag and work-related stress mean that sometimes without it I couldn’t fall asleep and I would be having trouble sleeping.
“After finding the source, we needed time for the whole matter to be concluded, which is what is happening now.
“On September 12, I was provisionally suspended, making me unable to play the tournaments in Asia or defend my ranking.
Iga Swiatek has already served most of her ban
PA
“Clearly, it’s a consequence of this situation, but not the most important one for me. What mattered most for me was to prove my innocence.
“Now that the whole thing is drawing to a close, I was put on a symbolic one-month suspension. 22 days are behind me, eight days still to go.
“That means I can start my new season with a clean slate, focused on what I’ve always done, simply playing tennis.
“This experience, the most difficult in my life so far, taught me a lot. Going back to playing, compete in WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup gave me a lot of positive emotions and made me enjoy my game again.
“The whole thing will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life, it took a lot of strength, returning to training after this situation nearly broke my heart.
“So there were tears and lots of sleepless nights. The worst part of it was the uncertainty. I didn’t know what was going to happen with my career, how things would end or if I would be allowed to play tennis at all.
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Iga Swiatek will be able to start the new season in January
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“Which is why I am so grateful to my family and my team – people who stood by me no matter what.
“Right from the very beginning, everyone got together to help me. They went all out to locate the source and I am forever grateful for that.
“I admit this situation hit me hard because all my life I strived to have a career that could be an example for generations to come.
“A career that’s going to be fair in a sense, that will show I was fair and will embody all the values a top athlete should stand for.
“I have a sense this situation could undermine the image I’ve been building for years, which is why I hope you will understand what happened. Understand how I had no control over it and could do nothing to prevent this unfortunate turn of events.
“I hope you will stand by me and will keep supporting me because I’m not sure if without my supporters I would have been able to find the strength to carry on and keep fighting.
“So now I have fought the toughest battle of my life and I hope you will stay with me and keep supporting me.”