It was recently revealed that Iga Swiatek was found to be positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), which happened during an out-of-competition urine sample collected on 12 August, just three days before her first match at the Cincinnati Open. This notification was communicated to her a month later, on 12 September.
ITIA classified Swiatek's doping as 'unintentional'
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) assessed the situation and did not classify it as a serious offence. Trimetazidine is primarily a heart medication and has been linked to some notable doping cases. However, the ITIA concluded that Swiatek did not intentionally consume the substance, determining that her level of fault in this instance and was at the lowest end of the scale for cases involving little to no significant fault.
The ITIA established that the positive test result was due to the contamination of the non-prescription medication that Swiatek had been using—melatonin, to combat jet lag and sleep issues. Melatonin is a regulated drug in Poland.
How ITIA came to the conclusion?
In the course of the investigation, the ITIA dispatched a sample of the melatonin provided by Swiatek, along with an unopened pack from the same batch, to an independent WADA-accredited laboratory in Utah for testing. The conclusive results showed that the substance was contaminated with TMZ, a finding that was ascertained by an independent scientific expert from another WADA-accredited lab.
"Once the source of the TMZ had been established, it became clear that this was a highly unusual instance of a contaminated product, which in Poland is a regulated medicine. However, the product does not have the same designation globally, and the fact that a product is a regulated medication in one country cannot of itself be sufficient to avoid any level of fault. Taking into account the nature of the medication, and all the circumstances, it does place that fault at the lowest end of the scale." ITIA chief said.
As per protocols for anti-doping cases, Swiatek was placed under a provisional suspension on 22 September after being informed of the anti-doping rule violation. This necessitated her withdrawal from several events, including the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open.
Swiatek went onto participating in the WTA Finals in Riyadh and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Málaga, although the results didn't turn out in her favour.
Watch Iga Swaitek's explanation
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