“If I were Iga Swiatek, I would sue you for defamation”- Fans slam Nick Kyrgios, Yevgeny Kafelnikov for insinuating Pole used steroids amid doping row
Russian tennis legend Yevgeny Kafelnikov insinuated that Iga Swiatek set a poor example for the younger generation by using steroids, a claim Nick Kyrgios supported. However, several fans criticized both for their views.
Swiatek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine on August 12. As a result, she faced a provisional suspension from September 12 to October 14. Swiatek later defended herself, attributing the result to unintentional contamination from a non-prescription melatonin supplement she uses for sleep issues.
Following a thorough investigation, the ITIA determined that the Pole bore “no significant fault or negligence” and issued a one-month suspension starting November 27. However, she can return after December 4, having already served a provisional suspension.
Kyrgios, who frequently criticized Jannik Sinner during his doping controversy, also dismissed Swiatek’s defense as an “excuse.” The Aussie argued that tennis players can now easily avoid repercussions.
“The excuse that we can all use is that we didn’t know. Simply didn’t know. Professionals at the highest level of sport can now just say “we didn’t know,” he said.
Amid the doping controversy, former World No. 1 Kafelnikov also expressed concern that young players might see the use of banned substances as normal, indirectly blaming Swiatek for setting a bad example.
“And the sad part to all of this is that young and upcoming players(12-16 years old) look at they idols and think maybe it’s normal to use steroids in the future and get away with this! Current players setting bad examples for young generations,” he wrote on X.
