Iga Swiatek Accepts One-Month Ban After Positive Drug Test Due to Contaminated Melatonin

Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has been handed a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a prohibited substance typically used as a heart medication. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that the violation was unintentional and likely caused by contamination in a melatonin supplement Swiatek used for jet lag.

The ITIA concluded that Swiatek bore minimal fault, placing her case at the "lowest end of the range for no significant fault or negligence." Swiatek formally admitted to the anti-doping violation and agreed to the suspension. She had already served 12 days of a provisional ban in late September, missing the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open. With eight days of her suspension remaining, she will now serve the remainder during the off-season, clearing her to return on December 4.

Swiatek, a 23-year-old from Poland and a former world No. 1, had a stellar year, including winning her fifth Grand Slam at the French Open and earning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. She also reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open in August but was stripped of $158,944 in prize money following the positive test.

ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse emphasized the strict liability of the World Anti-Doping Code, reminding athletes to be vigilant with medications and supplements. While melatonin is regulated as a medicine in Poland, it doesn’t carry the same classification worldwide, which contributed to Swiatek’s inadvertent exposure to TMZ.

Swiatek's case follows another high-profile doping incident involving men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who was cleared of steroid allegations earlier this year. Both cases highlight the ongoing challenges of supplement contamination in professional tennis.