Former tennis star Andrea Petkovic praised Iga Swiatek for her handling of a recent doping situation, expressing her belief that the Polish player faced significant emotional turmoil during the ordeal. Swiatek, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) shortly after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced her provisional suspension last Thursday. Following this news, Swiatek took to Instagram to personally explain her circumstances.
The incident began in August when Swiatek provided a sample that tested positive for the banned substance. She was notified of the result on September 12, leading to what she described as a “stressful and anxious” period filled with tears and sleepless nights as she sought to understand how the positive test occurred and to prove her innocence. Investigations revealed that contamination from non-prescription melatonin pills manufactured in Poland was the source of the positive result, and the ITIA subsequently accepted that Swiatek had not intentionally ingested a prohibited substance. In her message, Swiatek expressed gratitude to those who supported her during this challenging time but emphasized that the experience was traumatic and unforgettable.
Petkovic, a former world No. 9, reflected on Swiatek’s video, noting its sincerity and emotional weight. “I think Iga Swiatek handled it the best of all players,” Petkovic said on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. “You could see the stress, the distress, the relief that it’s over. I thought that was really powerful from her, and I have to say she really gained my respect and appreciation for what she did there.”
In her video message, Swiatek acknowledged that she was addressing a “tough topic” she had been unable to discuss for two and a half months. She expressed shock at the positive doping test, stating that she had no prior knowledge of TMZ. “I had a strong sense of injustice, and these first few weeks were really chaotic,” she said. Swiatek explained that the detected concentration of the substance was extremely low, indicating possible contamination of either her sample or a supplement she was taking. This led her to conduct tests on all nutritional supplements and medications in her possession.
Swiatek further elaborated on the melatonin pills she had been using to manage stress and jet lag, describing the emotional toll of the situation. “The whole thing will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life,” she said. “It took a lot of strength to return to training after this situation nearly broke my heart. There were many tears and lots of sleepless nights. The worst part of it was uncertainty.”
Towards the end of her message, Swiatek expressed concern that the incident might alter public perception of her. “I hope you will understand what happened and how I had no control over it,” she pleaded. “I hope you will stand by me and keep supporting me, because I’m not sure if, without my supporters, I would have been able to find the strength to carry on and keep fighting.”
While most have accepted Swiatek’s explanation, some, including Nick Kyrgios, have questioned it, suggesting that claiming ignorance should not absolve a player from responsibility. As of Wednesday, Swiatek’s one-month suspension has expired, allowing her to return to competition as she prepares for the 2025 season.
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