"You never said it when Simona Halep got suspended"; "What an absolute joke" - Fans accuse WTA of 'double standards' over Iga Swiatek doping ban

Iga Swiatek received a one-month ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency after testing positive for a prohibited substance. The Women's Tennis Association released a statement in support of the Pole, which irked many fans on social media.

Swiatek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in August this year. After the investigation, ITIA released its report on November 28, stating they had accepted that the Pole's violation was caused by her contaminated medication, melatonin, and her doping was not intentional. Swiatek was provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4 and has accepted a one-month ban for her infraction.

The WTA promptly responded to their top star's doping saga and released a statement on social media emphasizing their support for Swiatek as well as the need for the sport to remain "clean." The WTA stood behind Swiatek in this situation while highlighting her commitment to fair play and attributed her positive doping test to difficulties faced by athletes in navigating medication.

You can see the WTA's entire statement on Iga Swiatek's doping saga below:

Tennis fans were not impressed by the WTA's reaction to Swiatek's doping situation. Many criticized the WTA and claimed the organization was supporting a "doper" and harming the reputation and integrity of the sport.

"The WTA fully supports Iga during this difficult time." What an absolute joke tennis has become," a fan said.

"What a world we live in. WTA supports dopers now!!!" another fan wrote.

"So we support dopers if they are in the top 5? The integrity of tennis is in the pits," a fan tweeted.

Fans also accused the WTA of double standards, noting that the organization did not release such supportive statements for other top stars like Simona Halep and Beatriz Haddad Maia when they faced doping violations. Halep was banned for nine months after testing positive for the banned drug Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open, and Haddad Maia was banned for 10 months, starting in July 2019.

"The whole thing is a shambles, so much inconsistency, sport must be fair for all. I don't remember Simona getting support," a fan wrote.

"Can you explain why previous players such as Beatriz Haddad Maia and Simona Halep were not treated in the same manner? @itia_tennis," another fan commented.

"You never said it when Halep got suspended, double standard," a fan tweeted.

A fan also called on the WTA to educate players with the help of doctors and nutrition experts about contaminated medications and substances that could lead to a positive doping test.

"Why can’t @WTA sit down with a group of doctors nutritionists and release the list of supplements/ melatonin etc that is ok for use. If melatonin is contaminated it is preposterous to put the blame on the athlete," a fan suggested.

"And I was wondering how she managed to win matches in 40 minutes," another fan joked.

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Iga Swiatek speaks out about one-month doping ban

Iga Swiatek (Source: Getty)

Iga Swiatek broke her silence about the doping ban just minutes after ITIA's report was released. In a video posted on social media, the Pole revealed that she learned about her positive doping test on September 12, after the US Open.

Swiatek said she was stunned to find herself in this situation and could not understand how she violated doping regulations.

"Hi everyone. The topic I want to share with you today is a tough one, one I was not able to discuss in the last 2.5 months. But I finally can, so I hope this video will explain a lot. I want to be transparent with you and I want you to understand what's been happening to me recently," Iga Swiatek said at the beginning of the video.

"On September 12 I learned that my anti-doping test sample, collected on August 12 before the Cincinnati tournament, tested positive. It was a blow for me. I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious. At first, I couldn't understand how that was even possible and where it came from."

Swiatek went on to reveal that the level of TMZ in her sample was "historically low", and neither she nor people in her circle had heard of the substance before. She added that her team fully cooperated with the ITIA.

"It turns out testing revealed historically lowest levels of trimetazidine, a substance I've never heard about before. I don't think I even knew it existed, I have never encountered it, nor did people around me. So I had a strong sense of injustice, and these first few weeks were really chaotic. We instantly reacted and cooperated with the ITIA."

Due to her provisional ban in September and October, Swiatek was forced to skip three big tournaments - Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open. However, she returned to action at the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup while she appealed her case to the ITIA.