Greg Rusedski, the 1997 US Open finalist, has expressed his views on the doping cases involving Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, noting that while he does not question the integrity of the investigations, the primary concern lies in the inconsistent speed of handling such cases.
Sinner faced two positive steroid tests in March but was able to demonstrate that he was a victim of a contaminated supplement, avoiding provisional suspension and later being cleared to compete. In contrast, Swiatek was notified of a positive test in mid-September and received a provisional suspension that lasted 22 days. She quickly identified the source of the prohibited substance in her sample, leading to the conclusion of her case by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which resulted in a one-month ban.
Rusedski addressed the differing reactions to the suspensions on social media. A fan pointed out the perceived double standard between Swiatek’s one-month suspension and Sinner’s lack of one. The fan noted that Swiatek admitted to making a mistake, while Sinner did not knowingly take a banned substance, which was attributed to a cream applied by his physiotherapist. Rusedski acknowledged the fan’s comments but emphasized that the real issue is the speed at which positive tests are resolved. He pointed out that other athletes have faced similar situations without the same level of promptness in their cases.
When Sinner’s case emerged, accusations of double standards were prevalent, but his coach, Darren Cahill, clarified that Sinner’s resources allowed for a swift resolution. Rusedski reiterated this sentiment, stating that both players benefited from their financial means and access to top legal and medical support. He advocated for a union to assist all players in expediting their doping cases, suggesting that not every athlete has the same resources to navigate such challenges.
Following her positive test, Swiatek described her initial shock and anxiety but quickly mobilized her team to investigate the issue. They discovered that the melatonin supplement she was using for jet lag was contaminated with a banned substance, and the ITIA accepted that her doping was unintentional. In a video on Instagram, Swiatek explained, “We instantly reacted and cooperated with the ITIA. The detected concentration was extremely low, suggesting that either the sample was contaminated or the medication was contaminated.”
With Swiatek having already served 22 days of her suspension, her one-month ban will officially conclude soon, allowing her to return to competition.
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