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via Reuters
Iga Świątek Credits: Reuters
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via Reuters
Iga Świątek Credits: Reuters
As if Jannik Sinner’s massive doping case wasn’t enough, the tennis world has witnessed yet another situation involving none other than former World No.1 Iga Swiatek. On Thursday, the five-time Grand Slam champion revealed that she tested positive for doping back in August. Due to failing the test, she was handed a 1-month ban and a provisional suspension from September 12 to October 4. In her statement; she revealed that she wasn’t aware of the banned substance in the first place. According to her, she simply took her medication, that later turned out to be contaminated. Seems like some of them are not satisfied with her explanations. The latest being Liam Broady, a British tennis player.
On Friday, Broady responded to a fan on X who was supporting Iga and criticized the ITIA, saying that the agency has not made a clear list of approved medications. “Wouldn’t it make sense for the tennis authorities to have an allowed list of branded supplements/medications from reputable manufacturers who could show their products were clean?” wrote the user.
To this, Broady replied in a sarcastic tone while clearing the user’s doubts. “Totally agree. This is already in place very easy to just get products that are tested. You can go on a website and just search up the product to make sure they’re safe from contamination,” he wrote in his post, dated November 29th. However, there was another Iga supporter who questioned Broady’s stance.
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“Dear Liam, Iga took melatonin prescribed by the doctor. It happened that the medicine contained a prohibited substance even though it should not be there (and this ingredient is not on the leaflet). I hope you understood, because it can’t be explained in simpler terms,” wrote the user. Well, Broady didn’t shy away from giving a perfect reply to this fan, too, while taking a jab at Iga. Plus, he also revealed a key detail about melatonin.
“As a world number one, you buy certified supplements. It is so easy to make sure they are certified,” he wrote. Continuing further, he mentioned that it’s “strange to be buying melatonin to help with jet lag when you’re going to the USA from Europe”. But why? He explained that it’s “because you’d want to stay up more not sleep more, I’ve done it a lot of times”
As a world number one you buy certified supplements. It is so easy to make sure they are certified. Also strange to be buying melatonin to help with jet lag when you’re going to the USA from Europe because you’d want to stay up more not sleep more, I’ve done it a lot of times 😂
— Liam Broady (@Liambroady) November 28, 2024
The current situation is surely not an easy one for Iga. Seems like she can’t catch a break whatsoever. The former World No.1 is facing harsh reactions from more tennis pros as well.
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Nick Kyrgios reacts to Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy with a blunt take
After initially seeing Jannik Sinner testing positive and now Swiatek, Nick wrote on X that “OUR SPORT IS COOKED”. But that’s not the only reaction from him on the Pole. While replying to a post asking people to make bold predictions for 2025’s season, he wrote, That our world number 1’s won’t fail drug tests.”
Even on his Instagram, Nick didn’t fail to mock Iga and Sinner. Although he didn’t directly name them, it was clear who was he referring to. In a recent story, he wrote “No contamination, just a normal cream used on an operated wrist. From an experienced physiotherapist who I am responsible for. Happy to be back and not cheating the system.”
Additionally, even British tennis player Tara Moore has come forward to present her blunt reaction. According to her, however, the duration of ban she received was long compared to Swiatek. The Pole’s got a 1-month ban with an additional eight days, which will end on December 4th. Whereas Moore was provisionally suspended in May 2022 for 19 months but was cleared the following year after a panel ruled that a failed drugs test was caused by contaminated meat.
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Moore questioned the ITIA for allowing Iga to play in the BJK Cup, and also the WTA Finals in Riyadh in the middle of serving her ban. “Wait… so she was supposed to be suspended until Dec 4th, yet played BJK cup.. which was (correct me if I’m wrong) LAST WEEK. HOW WAS SHE ALLOWED TO PLAY WHILST BEING SUSPENDED??? Someone plz explain cause I’m spiralling,” she wrote in her post on X.
As of now, Iga Swiatek may get more harsh reactions as the days go by. Let’s see how things turn out in the long run.
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Is Iga Swiatek's doping scandal a genuine mistake or a sign of deeper issues in tennis?
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