In November 2024, Iga Świątek, then ranked world No. 2 in women’s tennis, received a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the positive result was due to contamination in a melatonin supplement she used to address sleep issues. Consequently, Świątek forfeited her prize money from the Cincinnati Open and missed three tournaments during the investigation.
When asked about Świątek’s situation, current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka refrained from direct criticism, stating, “People are really used to overreacting before figuring stuff out, so I don’t want to leave any comments. I believe in clean sport and nothing else I can add.”
This incident has sparked discussions within the tennis community about the consistency of anti-doping regulations and the importance of athletes ensuring the safety and compliance of the supplements they consume. Notably, American player Taylor Fritz commented on the situation, urging the public to “remove your bias” when reacting to such cases.
Świątek has expressed her commitment to transparency and maintaining integrity in her career, acknowledging the challenges faced during this period.
