Iga Swiatek learns doping appeal decision moments after Australian Open victory
Iga Swiatek had another reason to be all smiles after she progressed to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. The Polish star breezed into the final eight after a 6-0, 6-1 mauling of world No.128 Eva Lys in just 59 minutes. Swiatek was in dominant form over Germany’s Eva LysGetty Swiatek clubbed 28 winners on her way to victory and won 81 per cent of points on her first serve, underscoring her dominance. She briefly flashed a smile before returning to a businesswoman-like demeanour as she shook hands with Lys after the German sent her return deep on match point. But the triumph on Rod Laver Arena wasn’t Swiatek’s only big win of the day. Minutes after she’d wrapped up the straight-sets victory, it was announced the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would not appeal against a sanction imposed on Swiatek following her positive test for a banned substance. Swiatek had tested positive for trimetazidine last August, three days before her first-round contest at the Cincinnati Open. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted her adverse finding was due to the contamination of a non-prescription medication she consumed. The ITIA immediately imposed a one-month suspension on Swiatek from September 22 to October 4, although it was not made public. But Swiatek successfully appealed the charges 22 days later and was permitted to compete at the WTA Finals and in the Billie Jean King Cup finals. She served the final eight days of her suspension through to December 4 to complete the month. WADA’s decision has now brought an end to the saga. WADA will not take Swiatek’s case to the Court of Arbitration for SportGetty “WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible and that there would be no scientific grounds to challenge it at CAS (the Court of Arbitration for Sport),” a WADA statement said. “WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible and that there would be no scientific grounds to challenge it at CAS (the Court of Arbitration for Sport).” Speaking in her post-match press conference, Swiatek said she was ‘satisfied’ with the outcome. “I just want to play tennis and focus on the tournament,” Swiatek said. The world No. 2 was also asked whether fans and some her rivals on the WTA Tour had treated her any differently after news broke of her positive test. “I haven’t noticed any difference,” Swiatek said. Swiatek is keen to put the doping saga behind her after WADA’s latest actionGetty “I think anyone who read the documents and details about the case, they understand. “In the locker room it’s been pretty nice, the girls are understanding. “Now, I just want to put this behind me because I’ve been on tour for quite a few weeks and it’s been all good so I don’t expect any changes and am happy that people understand.” Swiatek will face US Open semi-finalist and No.8 seed Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Iga Swiatek had another reason to be all smiles after she progressed to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
The Polish star breezed into the final eight after a 6-0, 6-1 mauling of world No.128 Eva Lys in just 59 minutes.
Swiatek clubbed 28 winners on her way to victory and won 81 per cent of points on her first serve, underscoring her dominance.
She briefly flashed a smile before returning to a businesswoman-like demeanour as she shook hands with Lys after the German sent her return deep on match point.
But the triumph on Rod Laver Arena wasn’t Swiatek’s only big win of the day.
Minutes after she’d wrapped up the straight-sets victory, it was announced the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would not appeal against a sanction imposed on Swiatek following her positive test for a banned substance.
Swiatek had tested positive for trimetazidine last August, three days before her first-round contest at the Cincinnati Open.
However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted her adverse finding was due to the contamination of a non-prescription medication she consumed.
The ITIA immediately imposed a one-month suspension on Swiatek from September 22 to October 4, although it was not made public.
But Swiatek successfully appealed the charges 22 days later and was permitted to compete at the WTA Finals and in the Billie Jean King Cup finals.
She served the final eight days of her suspension through to December 4 to complete the month.
WADA’s decision has now brought an end to the saga.
“WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible and that there would be no scientific grounds to challenge it at CAS (the Court of Arbitration for Sport),” a WADA statement said.
“WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible and that there would be no scientific grounds to challenge it at CAS (the Court of Arbitration for Sport).”
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Swiatek said she was ‘satisfied’ with the outcome.
“I just want to play tennis and focus on the tournament,” Swiatek said.
The world No. 2 was also asked whether fans and some her rivals on the WTA Tour had treated her any differently after news broke of her positive test.
“I haven’t noticed any difference,” Swiatek said.
“I think anyone who read the documents and details about the case, they understand.
“In the locker room it’s been pretty nice, the girls are understanding.
“Now, I just want to put this behind me because I’ve been on tour for quite a few weeks and it’s been all good so I don’t expect any changes and am happy that people understand.”
Swiatek will face US Open semi-finalist and No.8 seed Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
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