How much money is Iga Swiatek losing after shocking doping suspension? All you need to know

Iga Swiatek was handed a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine during an out-of-competition test in August. The five-time Grand Slam champion accepted the doping violation and called the incident unintentional.

Swiatek missed the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open in September after testing positive and although she had cited personal reasons for her absence from the circuit, the 23-year-old was serving a provisional ban. The 2024 Cincinnati Open marked her first tournament after the positive test, and she will forfeit her prize money from the event, the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced.

Swiatek made it to the semifinals in Cincinnati, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. She earned $158,944 in prize money from the tournament but will now have to forfeit the amount following the doping violation. Nonetheless, the World No. 2 has still earned more than $8 million from the 2024 season.

The 23-year-old witnessed a slump in her form following the Paris Olympics and the subsequent provisional doping ban from September 12 to October 4. She didn't win any titles in the latter half of the season after winning a staggering five in the first half. She also lost her World No.1 ranking to Sabalenka.

Swiatek won the Qatar Open as her first title of 2024 before winning the French Open for the third straight time. She also won the WTA 1000 Indian Wells Open, Madrid Open, and Rome Open.

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"It put everything I've worked so hard for my entire life into question" - Iga Swiatek breaks silence on doping violation

Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Poland v Italy: Iga Swiatek in action during Semi-Final (Source: Getty)

Iga Swiatek shared her thoughts after accepting a one-month doping suspension from the ITIA and called testing positive the worst experience of her life.

"In the last two-and-a-half 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," she said in a video message on Instagram.

The 23-year-old further added that she was broken up after the positive test and feared her legacy in the sport could be tarnished.

"I have a sense this situation could undermine the image I've been building for years, which is why I hope you will understand what happend. Understand I had no control over it and could do nothing to prevent this unfortunate turn of events," Iga Swiatek said.

The Polish player had cited the source of trimetazidine as a contaminated medicine which she had taken for jet lag. The ITIA did accept her explanation and handed her a one-month suspension, of which only eight days are remaining now.