Do the top-ranked tennis players get any special treatment in controversial issues like doping? Well, we saw Jannik Sinner facing a lot of backlash about possible preferential treatment in his doping controversy. Now, Iga Swiatek has been facing a similar backlash in the tennis world. The five-time Grand Slam champion recently accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance (TMZ). However, later on, it was discovered her level of fault was at the lowest end of the range for ‘No Significant Fault or Negligence.’ Hence, her punishment wasn’t that massive if we draw a comparison with others. Is there a disparity lying inside the whole system?

Well, previously we heard some tennis stars raising their voice against the decision laid out by the ITIA on Iga Swiatek’s case. For example, Simona Halep penned down a long note highlighting the difference in treatment. For those who are unaware, Halep tested positive for Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. She had to fight a lengthy battle to get her suspension reduced. Even Denis Shapovalov and Tara Moore raised their eyebrows at the decision. What do other experts think about Iga Swiatek getting any sort of special treatment for being placed at the higher spot in the rankings?

Recently, renowned tennis journalist Jon Wertheim appeared on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast. During the podcast, he said, “You say clarity when you’re Iga Swiatek and you can hire top legal council and immediately you know the playbook. You order the substance you send it to a lab. You know the guy ranked number 250 that’s subject to the same code doesn’t necessarily have that wherewithal or those financial resources. So, yeah I mean this is a reality of sports today but there clearly some process issues here that need to be addressed and tightened.”

Remember, what Andy Roddick had said while addressing a similar question on whether Jannik Sinner got any preferential treatment in his doping case? In October this year, during a conversation, Roddick debunked all the myths surrounding Sinner’s favoritism tag. He highlighted, “If you can afford a fancy lawyer, you normally get to a result faster and softer than you know if you don’t.” Has Iga Swiatek followed the path of Jannik Sinner? Well, looks quite likely at the moment! Did she issue any statement on the doping controversy, though?

Iga Swiatek defends her innocence in an emotional note to her fans

The 2024 season hasn’t gone the way, Iga Swiatek should have wanted! Although, she won five titles this season including a Grand Slam triumph (French Open), still she failed to retain her crown and finished the year as the number 2! Even off the court, she hasn’t had much good time either. Firstly, her split with her ex-coach Tomasz Wikotorowsi raised a few eyebrows in the tennis world, and then came this one. The doping controversy!

Iga Swiatek recently posted a long video clip on her IG account and in that video clip, she said, “I’m finally allowed… so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life. In the last 2.5 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. Both me and my Team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety.”

However, she further added, “Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever. I’m leaving with you a long video and right now I’m just relieved it’s over. I want to be open with you, even though I know I did nothing wrong. Out of respect for my fans and the public, I’m sharing all the details of this longest and toughest tournament of my career. My biggest hope is that you will stay with me.”

We saw several superstars including Naomi Osaka and Magdalena Frech showcasing their support for Iga Swiatek on that IG post. Even the American ski racer, Lindsay Vonn reacted to Swiatek’s video. She commented, “We know your character and your fans know it too. We have your back!” So, we’ve been getting some mixed reactions on Swiatek’s doping controversy. What are your thoughts though on this “disparity” in the tennis world?