Nick Kyrgios and Iga Swiatek could be set for an uncomfortable meeting on court
Nick Kyrgios and Iga Swiatek could face an uncomfortable meeting on court at World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi as the storm around the failed drug test for the women’s world No 2 continues to send shock waves through tennis.
Kyrgios was outspoken in his scepticism over Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests, as he suggested the world No 1 in the men’s game was fortante to avoid a ban after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug last March.
Sinner was cleared of guilt around his incident and allowed to continue his career, winning over $20million in prize money since his failed drug test.
Now tennis has been rocked by a second doping scandal after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed that Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in August.
As with Sinner, the ITIA found that the Pole bore “no significant fault or negligence” as “the contaminated product was a regulated non-prescription medication in the player’s country of origin”.
Swiatek, though, was hit with a one-month ban and was provisionally suspended from September 21 before successfully appealing, missing three tournaments.
“I’m finally allowed… so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life,” said Swiatek.
“In the last 2.5 months I was subject to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence. The only positive doping test in my career, showing an unbelievably low level of a banned substance I’ve never heard about before, put everything I’ve worked so hard for my entire life into question.
“Both me and my team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety. Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever.
