Doping of the world’s first racket
Świątek, then the world No. 1, faced a positive doping test on August 12 ahead of the Cincinnati event. The Polish star later competed, reaching the semifinals at that tournament and advancing to the fourth round of the US Open. The substance trimetazidine was detected in tests conducted on September 12, leading to questions about doping in her case.
Immediately after the discovery, Świątek was placed under a provisional suspension, a step kept out of the public eye for a time, until the final ruling was announced on November 28. The case moved through the processes of provisional measures and review as officials weighed the evidence and the context of the positive result.
Following the automatic provisional suspension, the sequence of events unfolded as follows: on September 14, a request was submitted to open Sample B, which contained the prohibited substance; on September 22, a petition to lift the suspension was filed, arguing that the drug was not knowingly taken and that its source remained unclear; on September 25, the Tennis Anti-Doping Agency refused to overturn the suspension.
In the days that followed, Świątek provided several expert reports to the ITIA and revealed that the melatonin tablets she had taken contained trimetazidine, a substance listed among the 14 drugs and supplements flagged by the Women’s Tennis Association for players. The athlete then sent the remaining melatonin packet and a sealed batch of medication from the same supplier for testing. The analysis showed that both the remaining tablets and the sealed batch contained trimetazidine in the same proportion detected earlier. The ITIA acknowledged this finding on October 4, and the suspension was lifted on the same day.
During this period, Świątek missed events in Seoul and Beijing and did not make it to Wuhan. The director of the final tournament noted that the player had opted out of the event due to a shift in her team structure.
Ultimately, the ITIA issued a final decision disqualifying the athlete for one month, a period many viewed as symbolic given its short length. Świątek had eight days left to serve before the end of the ban. By December 4, she was allowed to return, with no results or ranking points canceled; however, the Cincinnati prize money was withheld as part of the consequences.
Same medicine as Valieva’s
Trimetazidine, the drug at the heart of Świątek’s temporary ban, is the same substance that prompted a four‑year sanction for Russian skater Kamila Valieva. Yet the conclusions and procedures differed between the two cases, reflecting distinct contexts and timelines.
Where Valieva’s narrative involved contested circumstances about how the substance entered the body, Świątek’s case rested on the evidence that melatonin she had been prescribed contained trimetazidine, leading to a paperwork-driven explanation rather than direct testimony of intent to cheat.
Świątek explained that the melatonin was prescribed by her psychologist and had been part of her sleep routine since 2019. In Poland, melatonin is treated as a medical drug, affordable without a prescription. The evidence list included bank statements and pharmacy receipts showing legitimate purchases, while a batch number from a control matched the batch containing trimetazidine. Officials determined that contamination was plausible because melatonin and trimetazidine are produced by the same manufacturer.
The narrative notes that Świątek took two to three melatonin tablets around 3 a.m. on August 12 and was awakened for the morning test. Experts confirmed that the banned substance could have entered the body by accident, with the concentration levels aligning with the timing of the incident. The court concluded that she bore no fault in the contamination and considered her prior clean record and reputation in issuing the final decision.
In reaching its verdict, the tribunal emphasized that Świątek had taken reasonable precautions to prevent any such incident and that her career trajectory had not been marked by prior doping violations. The ruling was framed as fair given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the contamination and the absence of deliberate wrongdoing.
mixed reaction
The tennis world reacted with a broad mix of disappointment, skepticism, and sympathy, especially against the backdrop of a separate early doping case involving Italian player Jannik Sinner, which also drew swift scrutiny. The Sinner case did not lead to a long suspension, and reactions to Świątek’s situation drew comparisons to that outcome.
Nick Kyrgios, an outspoken voice in the sport, suggested that integrity in sport should not be assumed by default when a positive test is reported, calling out the prevalence of quick judgments in social media. A prominent Canadian figure, Denis Shapovalov, voiced concern about the inconsistency in punishments and the way suspensions are communicated, arguing that public reactions sometimes fail to reflect the nuance of each case.
Simona Halep, the former world No. 1, publicly lamented the uneven treatment in doping cases and questioned the fairness of different outcomes for similar circumstances. Russian legend Yevgeny Kafelnikov also criticized the sport’s handling of doping cases, while American Taylor Fritz urged supporters of all sides to seek balance and restraint in judging cases without full facts. Fritz highlighted the risk of bias, noting that fans often shift their stance depending on whether a favorite athlete tests positive or not.
As the discourse evolved, observers pressed for a more consistent standard and for transparency in how decisions are reached, emphasizing the need to avoid premature conclusions while protecting athletes who may be innocent of wrongdoing.
“This will not affect Schwiatek’s career”
A veteran analyst commented that the situation was difficult but unlikely to derail Świątek’s long-term trajectory. While some argued that the case could influence perceptions of her career, others believed that the outcome, combined with the short ban and the absence of penalties to ranking points, would allow her to resume competing without lasting negative effects.
Analysts noted that the rules governing doping and supplements were causing ongoing debates about how to handle inadvertent contamination and the responsibility placed on athletes for everything they ingest. Observers expected closer monitoring of Świątek and a renewed focus on careful supplement choices in the future. The consensus was that her career would likely continue at a high level, provided she maintains strict compliance and communicates openly about supplement use and medical advice.
The broader tennis community anticipated heightened vigilance around supplements and sleep aids, with players taking steps to avoid similar incidents by confirming the contents of any medication and its sourcing before use.