3 weeks ago
5
Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has questioned the “big difference” in how tennis doping cases are handled after world number two Iga Swiatek received a one-month ban.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced that Swiatek had accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
Halep, who was out of action for more than 18 months following two separate anti-doping violations, has criticised the ITIA for having “completely different approaches”.
Halep was provisionally suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for banned substance roxadustat – an anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body.
The Romanian was later banned for four years – a period which was reduced to nine months in March after an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Halep always maintained her innocence and argued she had taken a contaminated supplement.
Swiatek tested positive for a heart medication, TMZ, in an out-of-competition sample in August 2024, when she was world number one.
The ITIA accepted the five-time major winner’s violation was caused by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medication melatonin, manufactured and sold in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep issues.
English (US) ·