Why did Jannik Sinner escape suspension while Iga Swiatek has been handed 1-month ban after positive doping result? All you need to know

Five-time Major champion Iga Swiatek received a one-month ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for trimetazidine as announced by them on Thursday, November 28. She failed an out-of-competition test in August 2024 and was suspended provisionally starting on September 12.

After an investigation, the provisional ban was lifted on October 4, though as per the final ruling, she still received a month-long suspension. However, having served three weeks of it during the provisional ban, she now has only a week of the ban left to complete.

This is the second such incident to rock the tennis world this year. It came to light in August that World No.1 Jannik Sinner had tested positive for clostebol in March, a banned anabolic steroid, and was stripped of his ranking points and prize money from when he failed the doping test.

However, the big difference is that Sinner didn't serve any time, unlike Swiatek. This is because of a very slight conclusion the ITIA came to in their respective matters. The organization found that there was "no fault or negligence" on the Italian's part, which is essentially a clean chit.

The ITIA ruled that Swiatek bore "no significant fault of negligence". The word "significant" is of importance here, as it denotes that she will have to take some responsibility for what transpired, even if it wasn't completely her fault. Thus, the Pole received a month-long ban, while Sinner walked away without a suspension.

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Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner's doping scandal marks the first time that two top names have been under the scanner in the same year

Iga Swiatek at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner both enjoyed a stellar season this year. The former won her fifth Major title at the French Open, along with four WTA 1000 titles, and finished the season ranked No. 2. The latter, meanwhile, won eight titles and concluded the season atop the rankings.

For two top players to have a positive doping test within months of each other is quite unprecedented. While they were largely cleared of any wrongdoing and their explanation for their actions was found acceptable by the authorities, it certainly raises a few eyebrows.

Sinner silenced his detractors with his results since his doping scandal became public. He won the US Open, the ATP Finals, and the Shanghai Masters, along with the Davis Cup after the reveal of his failed doping test. With this being the off-season, Swiatek will aim to do the same once the new season begins.