Iga Sviatek is free to play after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced it would not appeal the sanctions imposed for testing positive for a banned substance.
WADA released its decision just minutes after five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek. She beat Eva Lees 6-0 6-1 and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open..
No. 2 in the world tested positive for trimetazidine in August, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) acknowledged that the adverse finding was the result of over-the-counter drug contamination.
The ITIA imposed a one-month ban on the 23-year-old Pole and after reviewing the evidence, WADA has now said it will not take the matter any further.
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Nick Kyrgios has criticized the doping cases involving Yannick Sinner and Iga Sviatek, saying it was handled “appallingly” and that “the treatment should be fair for everyone”.
“WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific scenario of contaminated melatonin as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA is plausible and that there is no scientific basis to challenge it before the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) be,” said the WADA statement.
“Subsequently, WADA sought advice from external legal counsel, who found that the athlete’s explanation for contamination was well established, that the ITIA’s decision was consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, and that there was no reasonable basis to appeal it to CAS.”
Swiatek was suspended from Sept. 22 to Oct. 4, but it was not made public because the 23-year-old missed three tournaments due to personal issues and a coaching change.
Swiatek then served an additional eight days until December 4 to complete the month.
WADA has appealed Yannick Siner’s acquittal and a hearing is scheduled for April at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
WADA appealed the decisions Tied with current Men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner taken by ITIA.
Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March, but the ITIA admitted it was the result of accidental contamination.
WADA contested the ruling and asked that the Italian, who won last year’s US Open title shortly after the test was published, be banned from the sport for one to two years.
CAS will hear WADA’s appeal in the Sinner case on April 16 and 17.
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