Swiatek, a five-time grand slam champion, tested for trimetazidine (TMZ), which enhances blood flow, in an out-of-competition sample ahead of the Cincinnati Open in August. But she was able to prove to anti-doping authorities that she was contaminated by a supplement to combat jet lag, ensuring minimal sanction.
The 23-year-old Polish star was informed of the positive result by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on 12 September, and received a mandatory provisional suspension. She missed the Korea Open, China Open and Wuhan Open for “personal reasons”, losing her place as world No 1 to Aryna Sabalenka as a result.
On 4 October, the ITIA recommended Swiatek’s provisional ban be lifted based on the findings of an investigation, allowing her to compete at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia and for Poland at the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga.
Having already served 22 days under provisional suspension, Swiatek is banned from tennis for a further eight days – during which time she is not scheduled to compete – and will be free to play at the Australian Open in January. She has also been stripped of ranking points and prize money earned at the Cincinnati Open, where she reached the semi-finals.
As part of her defence, Swiatek submitted hair samples along with all of her regular supplements to two laboratories for testing, where it was found that a melatonin supplement to manage jet lag was the cause of the TMZ traces. An independent lab accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and commissioned by the ITIA further confirmed the results.
In a video statement, Swiatek said: “I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious. At first I couldn’t understand how that was even possible and where it came from.
The tests showed that melatonin, which I’ve been using for a long time… the batch I had on me and had used before the Cincinnati tournament was contaminated during manufacturing. Melatonin is necessary for me, because all my travelling, jet lag and work-related stress mean that sometimes – without it – I couldn’t fall asleep.”
