Criticism Comes From Homeland for Iga Swiatek as Polish Doping Expert Raises Serious Questions on Doping Controversy

Iga Swiatek is still under scrutiny after her one-month ban for testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. She missed the Asian swing of the tour due to this suspension, which the ITIA deemed necessary. Although she completed her ban and paid a fine, backlash ensued. Some fans and insiders sympathized with her, understanding that the substance came from medication for sleep issues and jet lag. Meanwhile, others felt she received a lenient punishment and that the conversation was far from over.

On November 28, Swiatek shared her experience on Instagram, aiming for transparency with her supporters. What began as a routine drug test in August turned into her “worst experience” when she received positive results in September. Now that her suspension is over, she is focused on the upcoming season. However, critics like Nick Kyrgios and Simona Halep have raised concerns about the perceived preferential treatment of top players in doping cases.

Adding to the controversy, a Polish lawyer criticized the verdict in Swiatek’s case. Speaking on the Program Tenisowy channel, he noted, “The verdict in Iga’s case is a bit unfair.” Despite forfeiting prize money from the Cincinnati Open and incurring legal fees, many believe it wasn’t enough punishment. This situation echoes Jannik Sinner‘s case, where initial clearance led to further complications.

The Italian was initially cleared off by the ITIA in August; however, by September, WADA came back and demanded another appeal before CAS. Which may lead to the World No. 1 receiving a ban of up to two years. While the lawyer seems unsure of how to go about Swiatek’s case, he stated, “For me, Iga’s case is mysterious and I wonder why she was not found innocent or, for example, reprimanded.”

When you compare her case to Sinner or Halep, the disparities seem to stand out. Right now Jannik is still awaiting his final verdict from CAS after testing positive back in March. Meanwhile, Simona faced a potential four-year ban for testing positive for roxadustat at the 2022 US Open, which was later reduced to nine months on appeal. However, ITIA’s CEO, Karen Moorhouse, spoke up about how her case was unique: “Once the source of the TMZ had been established, it became clear that this was a highly unusual instance of a contaminated product, which in Poland is a regulated medicine.”