World number two Iga Swiatek has served a one-month doping ban, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced. Swiatek tested positive for a banned substance during an out-of-competition test in August.
The 23-year-old Pole was provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4, missing three tournaments in Asia. She subsequently appealed the ban and was allowed to compete in tournaments until the end of the year, including the WTA Finals, while the appeal was being heard. The ITIA then offered Swiatek, and she accepted, a suspension that would run from November 27 to December 7, allowing her to start the new season.
Low levels of trimetazidine were found in Swiatek's sample, and the investigation showed that she had unintentionally taken the substance with a drug that is sold freely in pharmacies. Schwontek returned the prize money from the Cincinnati tournament that preceded the test.
Thus, within a year, the leaders of the world rankings for men and women - Jannick Sinner and Iga Swiatek - tested positive for banned substances. Schwontek was subsequently swept from the top by Aryna Sabalenka. | BGNES
