Iga Świątek has received widespread praise for the way she handled the fallout from her positive doping test, with former world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic expressing admiration for how the Polish star managed the situation. Petkovic stated that Świątek “handled it the best of all the players,” recognizing the emotional strength the five-time Grand Slam champion displayed throughout the ordeal.
In August, during the Cincinnati Open, Świątek tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) informed her of the results the following month. The 22-year-old was provisionally suspended and forced to withdraw from three tournaments in Asia while awaiting a final decision. By November, the ITIA concluded that she bore “no significant fault or negligence” in the matter, and although she was hit with a one-month suspension, most of it had already been served during October. This cleared the way for her return to competition.
When the news of the suspension broke, Świątek addressed the situation head-on. She released a video on social media to provide a transparent and thorough explanation, detailing the contamination of a supplement she had been using. The video included a full timeline of events, showing her commitment to being forthright with her fans and the public.
“I admit this situation hit me hard because all my life I strived to have a career that could be an example for generations to come, a career that’s going to be fair in a sense, that will show I was fair and will embody all the values a top athlete should stand for,” she said in the video. “This whole thing will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life, it took a lot of strength – returning to training after this situation nearly broke my heart.”
Świątek’s openness was in stark contrast to the situation involving Jannik Sinner. The world No. 1 men’s player tested positive for a banned substance in March, but the public was not made aware of the result until August, when the ITIA cleared him of any intentional wrongdoing. He was not suspended, unlike Świątek, who faced a brief suspension before being cleared.
Petkovic, reflecting on Świątek’s handling of the matter, shared her admiration during an appearance on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. “I think Iga Świątek handled it the best of all players with her videos, speaking right down the barrel, in her language where she feels most comfortable with the translation, of course, and subtitles,” the former French Open semi-finalist said. “I was really moved by [it] because you could see the stress, the distress, the relief that it’s over, and just explaining right down the barrel as if she was looking into your eyes.”
Petkovic went on to praise the emotional transparency Świątek displayed, noting how powerful and genuine her message came across. “I thought that was really powerful from her and I have to say she really gained my respect and appreciation about what she did there. I think that’s really hard,” Petkovic concluded.
Through her strength and candidness, Świątek not only weathered a challenging situation but also earned a deeper level of respect from fellow players and fans alike. Her ability to handle the pressure with grace and transparency highlights the maturity and professionalism she continues to demonstrate on and off the court.