“Both me and my Team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety,” Iga Swiatek said, addressing the issues about her doping case. The WTA star, who had to take a mysterious break after Olympics, didn’t seem ready for the aftermath of the consequences that fell upon her. Besides the ban, a massive emotional toll fell upon her, putting her in a challenging situation again. Now a doping expert stepped forward to highlight signs of another dark cloud bursting upon her.

The former president of the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority, Prof. Luis Horta, raised concerns about the current handling of Iga Swiatek’s doping case. Horta believes the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) could appeal her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne which could lead to stricter consequences. Horta stated that Trimetazidine cases are treated as serious, adding Swiatek’s situation could result in a suspension longer than the one month.

The Anti-Doping Code outlines a range of sanctions that vary from a warning to a maximum suspension of two years. The CAS trial will focus on evaluating Swiatek’s level of awareness and determining whether negligence played a role. Reports suggest Swiatek’s case involves trimetazidine which is a banned heart medication that contaminated her sleep aid, melatonin.

There is a possibility that the melatonin Swiatek consumed was contaminated during production. Horta explained that the residues of the substance may have remained on the production equipment. He also highlighted a worrying trend by adding that incidents of deliberate contamination of medicines by manufacturers who do not inform about the presence of certain ingredients are becoming more frequent.

If  Swiatek obtained the melatonin online, it could show gross negligence on her part. Horta highlighted the importance of professional athletes taking precautions when purchasing medication. He also stated that professional athletes should buy their medications from trusted sources and well-known brands to avoid the risk of contamination. Reports indicate that Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine on August 12 just days after her final match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Swiatek was suspended in September following the US Open, a period where she missed three tournaments, the China Open, Korea Open, and Wuhan Open. At the time, she stated “personal reasons” for her absence. However, the suspension was withdrawn after Swiatek provided evidence proving contamination which was also supported by tests conducted by the ITIA. What’s making it hard is the criticism she is facing over her doping situation – most notably from Simona Halep.

Simona Halep speaks out amid Iga Swiatek controversy

Simona Halep also shared her thoughts on the ongoing doping controversy involving Iga. She expressed her frustration over what she sees as unequal treatment in tennis. The Romanian also faced suspension due to doping and she highlighted the differences in how cases are handled and judged. “I’m sitting and trying to understand, but it’s really impossible for me to understand something like this,” Halep wrote on Instagram. “I stand and ask myself, why is there such a big difference in treatment and judgment? I can’t find and I don’t think there can be a logical answer. It can only be bad will from ITIA, the organization that has done absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence.”

The former world no. 1 tested positive for Roxadustat during the 2022 US Open and faced a four-year suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The ban was initially set to last until 2026. However, after legal battles, Halep successfully reduced her suspension and returned to competition earlier this year.

Halep shared the emotional toll it took on her, saying, “I lost two years of my career, I lost many nights when I couldn’t sleep, thoughts, anxiety, questions without answers… but I won justice. It turned out that it was a contamination and that the biological passport was a pure invention. And I won something else, my soul remained clean!”

Despite her struggles, Halep expressed gratitude to those who supported her. “I feel disappointed, I feel mad, I feel frustrated, but I do not feel evil even now. I am grateful for the support and unconditional love of those who have been by my side every day. THANK YOU!”

Halep concluded with a message of pride in her integrity. “As we know well that every morning the sun rises for everyone, but it’s good to rise finding yourself with a flawless soul! And that’s how I am, packed and proud of what I am!” Well, all of this shows how Swiatek’s case has not only raised concerns for her but also for others who have faced things in the past. What are your thoughts?