Swiatek gets green light to compete at Australian Open

Iga Swiatek has accepted a one-month ban for a positive drug test registered in September this year, after the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced the suspension on Thursday.

The world No.2 was found to have a banned heart medication — trimetazidine — in her system, which she says she took unintentionally through the contamination of another medication, melatonin.

The ITIA has accepted her explanation, saying that Swiatek’s level of fault was “at the lowest end of the range for no significant fault or negligence” and issuing a symbolic, one-month ban.

Swiatek has already served all but eight days of the sentence, having missed three tournaments in the WTA Tour’s Asian swing.

As a result, the ban has not impacted here odds of winning the Australian Open, with the star Pole on the second line of betting at $4.50 to win the first grand slam of 2025.

World no.1 Aryna Sabalenka ($3.25) is the favourite to win the tournament with tennis betting sites.

“I’m finally allowed, so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life,” Swiatek said in an Instagram post on Thursday.

“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.

“Both me and my team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety.

“Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever.

“Right now, I’m just relieved it’s over.

“I want to be open with you, even though I know I did nothing wrong.

“Out of respect for my fans and the public, I’m sharing all the details of this longest and toughest tournament of my career.

“My biggest hope is that you will stay with me.”

The WTA Tour issued a statement of their own on Thursday, throwing their support behind the 23-year-old.

“The WTA fully supports Iga during this difficult time,” the statement said.

“Iga has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to fair play and upholding the principles of clean sport, and this unfortunate incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating the use of medications and supplements.”

However, Swiatek’s one-month ban has drawn some initial debate from fellow players online.

World No.268 Tara Moore, who received a 19-month suspension for a similar offence did not view the ruling favourably.

“Why is no one seriously looking into the corruption of the organisations that govern us?,” she said.

World No.4 Taylor Fritz, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov and Germany’s Eva Lys also commented negatively on the sports drug testing process.

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