Famous Polish tennis player, who received backlash from compatriots for wearing a Ukrainian ribbon, finds herself at the center of a high-profile scandal

World No. 2 Iga Świątek has received a one-month suspension for violating anti-doping rules, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reports. The 23-year-old Pole failed a doping test, which she took on August 12, 2024.

A banned substance, trimetazidine, was found in her sample. The investigation showed that the substance entered the body through melatonin, which the athlete took to normalize sleep and adapt to the change of time zones. The drug authorized for use turned out to be with a "surprise."

The ITIA took into account all the circumstances and found that the violation occurred unintentionally. Świątek accepted the ban, formally admitting the violation on November 27, 2024.

The one-month suspension includes the period that was in effect from September 12 to October 4. Thus, Świątek will be able to return to the court on December 4.

Earlier, Świątek admitted that she stopped wearing a ribbon in the colors of the Ukrainian flag because of criticism from her compatriots. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Warsaw native has been regularly wearing the Ukrainian symbol on her cap during matches.

Last season, Poland's best tennis player won Roland Garros and four WTA titles. She also became a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympic Games in Paris.

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