Iga Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition urine sample taken on 12 August, three days before her first match at the Cincinnati Open. She received notification of the anti-doping rule violation a month later on 12 September.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) does not consider this a serious offence. TMZ is a drug primarily used as heart medication and has been involved in several high-profile doping cases. However, the ITIA ruled Swiatek did not intentionally take the banned substance and that her level of fault in the positive test was the “lowest end of the range” for no significant fault or negligence.
The ITIA accepted that the positive test was caused by the contamination of the non-prescription medication Swiatek had been taking – melatonin – to address jet lag and sleep problems. Melatonin is a regulated medication in Poland.
During the investigation, the ITIA sent a pack of melatonin provided by Swiatek and an unopened pack from the same batch for tests in an independent, Wada-accredited laboratory in Utah. Tests confirmed the substance was contaminated with TMZ and that was verified by an independent scientific expert from another Wada-accredited lab.
As is standard in anti-doping cases, Swiatek received a mandatory provisional suspension on 22 September upon notification of the anti-doping rule violation and she was forced to withdraw from the Korea Open, China Open and Wuhan Open. After three weeks, however, Swiatek successfully appealed against her provisional suspension, which allowed her to return to competition before her case was resolved. Swiatek ended her season by competing at the WTA Finals in Riyadh and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Málaga.
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