Tennis – Doping: Swiatek had the “worst experience of his life”

Published on November 28, 2024 at 4:13 p.m. – updated on November 28, 2024 at 4:51 p.m.

Aurélie Sacchelli

His last post Instagram went back to Friday when, at the edge of a swimming pool, she took stock of her season. Nobody imagined that this Thursday, Iga Swiatek would have to explain herself, after having been suspended for a month (suspension served in the fall) for a positive test in August, due to a drug that promotes sleep contaminated. The Polish woman explained in writing: “I finally have the right… so I immediately want to share with you what has become the worst experience of my life. Over the last two and a half months, I have been the subject of a strict ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Authority, editor’s note) procedure, which confirmed my innocence. The only positive doping test of my career, showing an incredibly low level of a banned substance I had never heard of before, called into question everything I had worked so hard for my entire life. My team and I have had to deal with enormous stress and anxiety. Today everything has been carefully explained and, with a clean slate, I can return to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever. I’ll leave you with a long video and, for now, I’m relieved that it’s over. I want to be honest with you, even though I know I didn’t do anything wrong. Out of respect for my fans and the public, I am sharing all the details of this longest and most difficult tournament of my career. My greatest hope is that you stay with me. »

Swiatek: “There were a lot of tears, sleepless nights”

Then in a video, the world No. 2 gave a little more detail: “I want to be transparent with you and I want you to understand what happened to me recently. On September 12, I learned that I had tested positive a month earlier and that I was temporarily suspended, it was a shock for me. This situation made me very anxious, I felt a feeling of injustice. (…) Tests showed that melatonin, which I have been using for a long time, was contaminated during its manufacture. We had to prove that this medicine was contaminated. Melatonin is necessary for me because I travel a lot, there is jet lag, work-related stress, and sometimes I can’t get to sleep. (…) Coming back to play the Masters and the BJK Cup gave me a lot of positive emotions, and made me appreciate the game even more. I return to training with great strength, after this situation almost broke my heart. There were many tears, many sleepless nights. (…) I hope you understand what happened. There was nothing I could do to avoid this turn of events. I hope you will continue to support me because without my supporters, I’m not sure I will be able to find the strength to continue fighting. » How will she be received in Australia? Answer next January…