MELBOURNE, Australia — Iga Swiatek, who openly admits to being a “control freak,” is adopting additional measures for her peace of mind, such as keeping more samples of her medications at hand, just in case they require testing later. She reflected on her recent doping case, describing it as “probably, like, the worst time in my life.”
Jannik Sinner, a fellow competitor who reached the No. 1 ranking and encountered a positive test in 2024, expressed uncertainty about the timing of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal regarding his exoneration, just ahead of the Australian Open, where he is the defending champion.
“I know just as much as you do,” Sinner mentioned during a recent press conference, addressing a reporter. “We’re in a situation where clarity is hard to come by.”
Despite his confidence in a favorable outcome, the 23-year-old Italian acknowledged that the situation weighs on his mind as the first Grand Slam of the year approaches this Sunday (Saturday ET).
“Of course, it crosses my mind,” Sinner admitted. “I’d be lying if I said I forgot about it.”
Both players, including the five-time major champion Swiatek, managed to keep their challenging circumstances hidden for months last season despite having failed tests.
Sinner tested positive twice for trace amounts of an anabolic steroid during a tournament in March; however, details about the findings and his eventual clearance by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) remained undisclosed until August, just before he claimed victory at the U.S. Open. His clearing resulted from the ITIA accepting his claim that a trainer accidentally introduced a banned substance during a massage after using a cream on his own injury.
Swiatek, on the other hand, failed an out-of-competition drug test in August, but the public only learned of her one-month suspension in late November. She had opted to not reveal the reason for her absence from three events, only for it to be announced that a contaminated sleep aid had tainted her sample. Fortunately, by the time the ITIA officially declared her case, the remaining week of her suspension coincided with the off-season.
Reflecting on her tumultuous time away from competition, Swiatek characterized the initial weeks as “pretty chaotic” and labeled it “probably, like, the worst time in my life.”
“It became rather uncomfortable. We initially decided to label my absence as ‘personal reasons’ because we genuinely believed the suspension would be lifted quickly,” she clarified. “From the outset, it was evident that my sample had been contaminated, as the substance levels in my urine were exceedingly low, indicating contamination.”
“We started with ‘personal issues’ because I needed time to sort everything out,” she added.
As she prepares for this season, Swiatek admits her concerns lie with how her fellow players might react.
“Aside from my inability to compete, the worst part was worrying about public perception. I’ve always strived to set a good standard, demonstrating my integrity and sportsmanship,” she expressed. “Losing control over this situation was quite unsettling. Yet, the girls in the locker room have been incredibly supportive.”
