As if Jannik Sinner’s doping controversy wasn’t enough this year, the tennis world was hit with another renowned player falling into this hole. It is none other than Iga Swiatek, who has found the going to be tough lately. The Polish star failed a doping test from an out-of-competition test and tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance used for heart medication. As a result, she was handed a penalty of 1-month ban and was provisionally suspended from September 22 to October 4. Further, Swiatek’s doping ban has led to questions over her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup.

According to the reports, Swiatek accepted a 1-month doping ban and her suspension will end on December 4. Thus, her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup surprised many and led to a stern reaction from a tennis player, Tara Moore, who had faced suspension in the past.

Taking to Twitter, Tara Moore, a tennis player, said, “Wait… so she was supposed to be suspended until Dec 4th yet played BJK cup.. which was (correct me if I’m wrong) LAST WEEK. HOW WAS SHE ALLOWED TO PLAY WHILST BEING SUSPENDED??? Someone plz explain cause I’m spiralling.”

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals took place from  13-20 November. During the same time, Swiatek was serving her sentence and many fans questioned how she played in the finals. Her team lost in the semifinals to the eventual winners, Italy. Although Swiatek formally accepted the punishment, she is yet to serve the entire tenure and it remains to be seen how it turns out to be.

Meanwhile, Swiatek had maintained her innocence in this regard. She took to social media to open up about her doping controversy.

Iga Swiatek is going through the worst days of her career

Interestingly, Swiatek was due to play in the Asian leg of the WTA Tour after her US Open quarterfinal defeat. However, she pulled out of tournaments like the China Open and Wuhan Open citing personal reasons. On the other hand, Swiatek maintained her ‘not guilty’ status and made an emotional confession in front of his fans.

Taking to Instagram, she wrote, “I’m finally allowed… so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life. In the last 2.5 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.”

It is about time that the doping guidelines be made more clear to remove any biases and unjust decisions. Do you think that Swiatek was lucky to have escaped with a 1-month ban? Let us know your views in the comments below.