Angola - M15 Luanda | League Finished Matches

Saturday, 30 Nov 2024

FT

Gregor Ramskogler Dominik Palan

News

Are there 'different approaches' to tennis doping cases?

Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, Simona Halep and Tara Moore have had very different experiences after testing positive for a banned substance - BBC Sport looks at why.

3 hours ago

Feature

Iga Swiatek: Doping ban 'the worst experience of my life'

Swiatek admitted being given a one-month ban as the "worst experience of my life" as the tennis world was rocked by another doping case involving one of its most high-profile players. The Pole was ranked world No 1 when she provided a sample containing the angina medication trimetazidine in an out-of-competition test on August 12, with the Swiatek news coming just a few months after men's world No 1 Jannik Sinner failed a drug test. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Swiatek's failed test was caused by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medication melatonin, which she took for jet lag and sleep issues. "I'm finally allowed... so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life," said Swiatek. "In the last 2.5 months, I was subject to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence. The only positive doping test in my career, showing an unbelievably low level of a banned substance I've never heard about before, put everything I've worked so hard for my entire life into question. "Both me and my team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety. Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most. I know I will be stronger than ever. "I'm leaving with you a long video and right now I'm just relieved it's over. I want to be open with you, even though I know I did nothing wrong. "Out of respect for my fans and the public, I'm sharing all the details of this longest and toughest tournament of my career. My biggest hope is that you will stay with me." Now it has been confirmed that Swiatek has split with the agent who has been managing her PR for many years, with Paula Wolecka confirming she has parted with Team Iga. "Almost 4 years of cooperation with Iga was an unforgettable adventure for someone passionate about sports, and at the same time a completely unique professional challenge," said Wolecka. "I will remember with particular warmth all the charity and social projects that made this joint work bring about a positive change in the world. "I wish Iga and the entire team good luck in their further development, and I myself am creating a place in my professional life for something new, outside the PR industry." Her new PR Manager is Daria Sulgostowska, who is a tennis coach, she is also a member of the board of the Polish Tennis Association. She is also a member of the Gender Equality Tennis Europe Committee. "Joining the team of Iga Swiatek, a person who sets sports and social standards, is an incredible distinction," said Sulgostowska. "As someone who has always been passionate about sports, especially tennis, and who also deals professionally with communication, I appreciate and greatly respect the image work done by the entire team so far. "I treat being a part of it as an expression of trust, for which I am very grateful. "I took on this new challenge with great joy, with the aim of further developing not only Iga's unique personal brand but also promoting the values that accompany it and that it represents." Despite her huge success on the court in recent years, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek still has a relatively low profile on the global sporting stage and she will be hoping Sulgostowska can change that in the years to come.

11 hours ago

Social

Videos

Feature

Best Crowd Interactions | 2024 US Open

2 months ago

Feature

Food for the Soul ? #VictoriaAzarenka took us horseback riding & you can watch the episode now! #WTA

2 months ago