“The WTA fully supports Iga during this difficult time,” read the women’s tennis body’s statement after Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy came to light. The former World Number 1 tested positive for a banned substance trimetazidine, a heart medication. Although it was found in extremely small quantities, Swiatek failed the doping test and was handed a 1-month doping ban. Subsequently, Swiatek pleaded innocent but accepted the doping ban. Moreover, the WTA released a statement, supporting Iga Swiatek, which didn’t go down well with the fans.

Like Swiatek, Simona Halep had also pleaded innocent in her doping controversy. She wasn’t aware of how she came in contact with the banned substance and even made emotional appeals to reveal her innocence. However, her pleas were left unheard and she faced a lengthy punishment in her doping case. Thus, fans called out the double standards over the handling of the cases of Swiatek and Halep.

Fans unhappy after Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep receive differential treatment

A couple of years back, Halep was handed a 4-year doping ban after testing positive for roxadustat at the 2022 U.S. Open. However, her ban was reduced to 9 months by the CAS earlier this year. Nonetheless, Halep had to be away from the sport for a long time and fans weren’t happy with the contradictory treatment given to Halep and Swiatek. As a result, one of the fans vented frustration at the WTA over this matter, saying, “The whole thing is a shambles, so much inconsistency, sport must be fair for all. I don’t remember Simona getting support.”

Additionally, there was no support from the WTA when Simona Halep pleaded for it in her case. The WTA was tight-lipped on that matter and let the doping agencies do the talking. As a result, a Twitter user called out this double standard and wrote, “You never said it when Halep got suspended. double standard.” On one hand, Swiatek escaped with a ban of just 1 month, and on the other, Halep was sentenced to a 4-year ban which was eventually reduced to 9 months after she won the appeal. However, this clearly showed the biases in the case of Swiatek and Halep, and a fan had some advice for the tennis body, saying, “Be fair across the Globe..this is so one-sided when. Others get 2 years or no suspension at all..”

Further, the PTPA has been actively working to provide a free and fair environment for all the players. However, there has been no support from bodies like the WTA and an angry fan commented, “When will the @WTA @atptour @ITFTennis @Wimbledon @usopen @rolandgarros @AustralianOpen investigate the ITIA & their procedures for a more fair/ open approach? The @ptpaplayers cannot do this alone! Players are afraid of the institutions that are supposed to protect us! Ask them!” Lastly, there was quite clear evidence of the preferential treatment after Swiatek escaped with just a month’s ban and Halep was given a 4-year ban initially. This led to question marks over the integrity of the ITIA and a fan made a blunt revelation, saying, “Where was this support while other players have been suspended for doping? This is insane.”

Nonetheless, the action must go on and Swiatek would hope to turn things around when she takes to the court next season. Can the Polish star make a strong comeback? Let us know your views in the comments below.