30.11.2024 Šwiętek on the positive doping test: I have been given a symbolic one-month suspension: 22 days gone, eight more to go

Iga Šwiętek revealed the details of the doping case. Trimetazidine was found in her sample, but she proved that the banned substance entered her body with contaminated melatonin.
I want to talk to you about a very difficult topic that I haven’t been able to talk about for the last two and a half months, but finally I can. I hope to explain as much as possible in this video because I want to be honest and want you to understand what has happened to me lately.
On September 12, I learned that the doping test taken on August 12, that is, before the tournament in Cincinnati, turned out to be positive. And for me it was a huge blow. I was in shock and this situation made me very worried. Because at first I simply didn’t understand how it happened and how this substance got there. It turned out that the sample contained the lowest concentration of trimetazidine in history. It was the first time in my life that I heard about this substance and, it seems, I didn’t even know about its existence. Neither I nor the people around me have ever encountered it. Therefore, the feeling of injustice did not leave me, and the first weeks were very chaotic. But we immediately responded and began collaborating with ITIA.
The very low concentration found suggested and made it almost obvious that the cause was contamination of the drug or supplement, so we sent all the drugs and supplements I was taking for testing. It turned out that melatonin, which I had been taking for a long time, or rather the batch that I had with me before Cincinnati, turned out to be contaminated at production.
It was a huge shock for us, but on the other hand, it explained a lot, because in such situations the most important thing is to find the source. When it was found, we had to prove that this drug was indeed contaminated. Melatonin is a drug I take due to travel, jetlag, and stress related to my work. Without it, sometimes I couldn`t sleep.
Once we found the source of the contamination, it still took time to finish the job. I was suspended since September 12th, so I couldn`t play in Asia and defend my ranking. It is clear that this is a consequence of the whole situation, but, of course, not the most important thing, because the most important thing for me was to prove my innocence.
Now the case is coming to an end, a symbolic suspension of one month has been imposed on me: 22 days gone, eight more to go. I will be able to start next season with a clean slate and focus on what I have always done - playing tennis.
This situation is the most difficult in my life, but it taught me a lot. When I returned and played the final tournament, the Billie Jean King Cup, it incredibly charged me with positivity and helped me enjoy the game again. But this matter will remain with me for the rest of my life and it took a lot of energy. Getting back to training after this whole situation almost broke my heart. There were many tears, many sleepless nights. The worst thing was the uncertainty. I didn’t know what would happen next with my career, I didn’t know how this situation would end and whether I would be allowed to play tennis.
I am grateful to my family and team. They stayed with me no matter what. From the very beginning of this situation they ate