DOUBLE FAULT as Iga Swiatek flunks dope test, puts credibility of tennis at stake after Jannik Sinner episode

The image of global tennis took a massive beating on Thursday when news broke out defending French Open champion and World No.2 Iga Swiatek is also a dope cheat. She is currently placed under suspension till December 2, 2024, after testing positive for Trimetazidine, a performance-enhancing substance.

The one-month ban on the queen of clay was made public by the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) which is already under dispute after the way it handled the doping case of World No.1 Jannik Sinner, who had tested positive for Clostebol, earlier in 2024.

Sinner was cleared by the ITIA but the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) has dragged the winner of two Grand Slams, the ATP season-ending finale and hero of the recent Davis Cup win for Italy to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sports).

When the verdict will come out is not clear, but Sinner should fear the worst before January 1, 2025, as the WADA will not let him get away easily once hearings take place.

Back to Swiatek, whose unbeaten records on clay have been part of tennis folklore, what is stunning is she had tested positive or Trimetazidine, commonly available as an OTC (over the counter) drug in the United States of America as Melatonin, which is used to fight jetlag.

That Melatonin is misused or abused is well-known, since it helps in regulating the sleep cycle. To her defence, in a latest video posted on social media, Iga Swiatek has said she took this medicine to handle her disturbed sleep cycle.

"Melatonin is a very necessary medication for me due to all my travels, jet lag, work-related stress, and sometimes I wouldn't be able to sleep without it," said in her video.

An elite athlete like Iga Swiatek, from Poland, should know that anything she ingests is bound to show up in a urine sample. Her defence in the video, that Melatonin contains low levels of Trimetazidine does not matter to tennis fans.

The onus on being clean and perceived as a champion and role model rests on the athlete. What is galling, again, the ITIA has been tight-lipped on the Iga affair till November 28, 2024, just as it handled the Jannik Sinner doping incident.

The Italian (Sinner) said his physio/trainers had used an ointment to relieve pain and due to a cut on his skin, Clostebol (banned substance) had entered his body.

He had to argue it out with the ITIA and was under stress after the Indian Wells tournament earlier this year. Sinner has talked of his turmoil and how people look at him suspiciously as a dope cheat, though he wasted no time in firing his physios and trainers!

Swiatek faces enormous backlash on social media. Her absence from the tennis circuit for a few weeks was intriguing, though she was present at the season-ending WTA finale in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she was eliminated from the group stage.

She kept quiet and so did the ITIA and WTA, the world body. It is only now, the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) has come out with a statement to defend her.

"The WTA fully supports Iga during this difficult time. Iga has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to fair play and upholding the principles of clean sport, and this unfortunate incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating the use of medications and supplements.

"The WTA remains steadfast in our support for a clean sport and the rigorous processes that protect the integrity of competition. We also emphasise that athletes must take every precaution to verify the safety and compliance of all products they use, as even unintentional exposure to prohibited substances can have significant consequences," said the WTA statement.

Nobody can deny Iga Swiatek, who has been a professional athlete and champion for years should have been discreet in using any medication. There is something called a TUE (theraupetic use exemption) which athletes can take, wherein a doctor certifies of prescribes a player needs to be on a certain medication.

It is well known champions like Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal has dealt with enormous health issues and pain and would have been on medication, all fully endorsed under the TUE, which is a constant process.

Swiatek's fans are in shock and the whole sport of tennis is now under a cloud as two big champions in one year - Swiatek and Sinner - flunking dope tests has led to an erosion in faith the ITIA is doing a diligent job.

They have kept quiet twice this year and this leads to suspicion in the minds of many. As an Olympic sport, tennis has to be perceived as clean where athletes with low rankings are suspended at the drop of a hat if found guilty of doping. If the ITIA has been kind to Swiatek, then it stands out now.

As dirt hits the roof, Iga Swiatek has posted a video where she is distraught. She has talked of her reputation being blown to smithereens, in a veiled manner and has also said she wanted to be seen as a role model.

"I feel like this situation could undermine the image I have been building for years. That's why I hope you understand what happened, that you understand I had no control over this and that I couldn't do anything to prevent this unfortunate event," says Swiatek.

"I hope you stand by my side and continue supporting me because I'm not sure that without my fans, I can find the strength to move forward and keep fighting. I have now fought the toughest battle of my life, and I hope you stay with me and support me."

Her return to tennis will definitely trigger suspicion and the 2025 season will be tough for her mentally. Again, nothing can stop the WADA from again approaching the CAS.

As the watchdog and vanguard in anti-doping, they will do all it takes to ensure sports is clean. Last but not the least, if Iga Swiatek says she has problems with jetlag, that's the same story for all tennis players who are peripatetic travellers in their entire tennis careers.