Iga Swiatek suspended after testing positive for banned substance.
Iga Swiatek forfeits Cincinnati Open prize money after positive test.
Women’s tennis world No. 2 Iga Swiatek has been handed a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ), the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed on Thursday, via Tumaini Carayol of The Guardian on X, formerly Twitter. Swiatek’s ban was determined to be unintentional, stemming from contamination in a melatonin supplement used to manage jetlag.
The positive test came from an out-of-competition sample collected on Aug. 12, ahead of the Cincinnati Open. The ITIA informed Swiatek of the result on Sept. 12, imposing a mandatory provisional suspension. After an appeal and investigation, the ITIA concluded that Swiatek bore “No Significant Fault or Negligence,” citing the trace amounts of TMZ and confirming that the contamination was unintentional, according to Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, has already served most of her ban. Having missed 22 days during the investigation, she has eight days remaining and will be eligible to compete at the Australian Open in January.
The ITIA’s investigation included analysis of Swiatek’s medications and supplements by independent laboratories, including a WADA-accredited facility. The results confirmed that the banned substance was present in one of her melatonin supplements, which does not require a prescription in Poland and is commonly used under medical supervision.
