Iga Swiatek defended by key WTA rival amid doping saga: ‘The explanation made sense’
WTA star Jessica Pegula has come to the defence of Iga Swiatek amid criticism of the Pole following her one-month doping suspension.
It was announced towards the end of November that world No 2 Swiatek had tested positive for banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in August.
The five-time Grand Slam champion was handed a one-month suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after being found of “no significant fault or negligence” due to the contamination of legal medication.
Swiatek has now completed her suspension and is set to return to action in less than three weeks at the United Cup, which starts on December 27.
Reaction to the suspension has been mixed, with some players implying that Swiatek, much like Jannik Sinner, was treated more leniently due to her status in the game.
However, speaking in New York, Pegula – who has played Swiatek 10 times, including in the US Open quarter-final this year – defended the world No 2 and the ITIA.
“I don’t know, it seems like they [ITIA] investigated it and she had her reasoning. I mean you have to trust that they’re doing their job, that they’re coming to the right conclusion,” said Pegula.
“I think it’s just frustrating for people on the outside – or even for some players – that it just seems so hit or miss with how people get punished.
“I’ve been explained why it happens. But at the same time, it’s like: ‘Yeah, but how does this vary so deeply?’
“And I think that can be frustrating. But how it was explained to me, it seems pretty cut and dried almost – and the explanation made sense.”
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Swiatek’s positive test came on August 12, shortly before the start of the Cincinnati Open, and the 23-year-old was informed of her doping violation on September 12.
The reigning French Open champion was provisionally suspended from that date until October 4, when she appealed against her initial ban.
However, she was unable to play in the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open during that period, while she was also stripped of her Cincinnati Open prize money.
Failure to defend her China Open title and play throughout the Asian swing was ultimately a decisive factor in Swiatek losing the world No 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka.
And Pegula believes that it is therefore unfair to say the Pole was not punished for her infraction.
She added: “You’re kind of wondering how that works when you’re not competing how it doesn’t seem to affect anything so it’s really not much of a punishment.
“But I mean she did miss the Asian swing and that also may have hurt her chances for the year-end No 1, which is obviously massive for her.
“Money-wise and sponsors and being able to have that No. 1 spot hurt too – so I’m sure she didn’t want to miss those.”
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