Earlier this year, Iga Swiatek caught the eyebrows of the tennis world after her shocking doping scandal came to light. The Pole failed a doping test and tested positive for the banned substance, trimetazidine. However, the level of the banned substance was extremely low and she escaped with just a 1-month ban. Amid this doping controversy, the tennis world was left divided, with some backing Swiatek while others calling out the partiality in her case as she was banned for just 1 month. Days later, the former World Number 1 has found the support of her rival.

Earlier this month, Swiatek was cleared of the doping charges after serving her suspension. She missed the entire Asian Swing after the US Open due to her ban and made a comeback at the WTA Finals. A few days back, Aryna Sabalenka spoke about Swiatek’s shocking doping controversy and backed her amid tough times.

The World Number 1 said, “People are really used to overreacting before figuring stuff out, so I don’t want to leave any comments. I believe in clean sport and nothing else I can add.”

Despite Swiatek being cleared of her doping charges, the criticism didn’t seem to die down as former English player and sports broadcaster, Jason Goodall slammed the likes of Swiatek and Jannik Sinner. The latter also tested positive for a banned substance like Swiatek but escaped any ban. Thus, Goodall slammed the ITIA, saying, “We’ve had a couple of high-profile doping cases this season with Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. And the one thing I didn’t like was the lack of transparency in those two cases.”

Meanwhile, Sabalenka isn’t the only one rallying behind Swiatek after her doping controversy came to light. Many fellow WTA stars have come forward and backed Swiatek and the latter thanked them for their support.

Iga Swiatek pays gratitude to fellow players

While Sabalenka is the most recent player to back Swiatek, other WTA stars like Sloane Stephens have also come out in support of the Pole. Many fellow players also sent private messages to Swiatek as a show of support. As a result, Swiatek thanked her fellow athletes and made a heartfelt revelation.

She said, “I definitely received more signals of support, especially in private messages. I talked to a lot of female athletes and most of them told me that this was their biggest fear, that something like this could happen to them. They asked me what to do now.”

Further, she went on to add, “In the beginning, when no one had time to read the documentation, they asked what the medicine was, where the melatonin came from. I felt support and understanding from them, and I think most athletes are aware that this can happen to them. But of course there are exceptions.”

With one month of doping suspension behind her now, Swiatek would look to overcome the tough period and make a fresh start next season. Can she get back to the winning ways next season? Let us know your views in the comments below.