World No.2 Iga Świątek concedes she endured "sleepless nights" after it was discovered she tested positive for a banned substance, ruling her out for one month.
The five-time major winner was found to have had a substance named trimetazidine in her system, a type of heart medication that is currently on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA's) list of banned substances.
In part of a statement released by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), they concluded that her level of fault was "at the lowest end of the range for no significant fault or negligence."
The 23-year-old tested positive during an out-of-competition urine sample on August 12 before the Cincinnati Open and was notified exactly one month later.
Świątek forfeited US$158,944 worth of prize money collected in Cincinnati, the first event she played having tested positive unknowingly.
Speaking in Polish, Świątek posted a video on social media to explain her side of the story and how the news has impacted her life.
"I’m finally allowed... so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life," Świątek said.
"In the last two-and-a-half months I was subject to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence.
"The only positive doping test in my career, showing unbelievably low level of a banned substance I’ve never heard about before, put everything I’ve worked so hard for my entire life into question.
"Both me and my team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety. Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most.
"This experience, the most difficult in my life so far, taught me a lot.
"The whole thing will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life. It took a lot to return to training after the situation nearly broke my heart, so there were many tears and lots of sleepless nights.
"The worst part of it was the uncertainty. I didn’t know what was going to happen with my career, how things would end or if I would be allowed to play tennis at all.
"I can start my new season with a clean slate, focused on what I've always done — simply playing tennis."
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has defended the former world No.1 during a tense and delicate situation.
"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."
Świątek will be eligible to compete during the Australian summer swing and participate at the 2025 Australian Open, having served part of her suspension between September 22 and October 4, skipping three tournaments.
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