Five-time Grand Slam tennis champion says doping ban was 'worst experience of my life'

Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has said being fixed a one-month doping prohibition from the athletics was the "worst acquisition of my life".

The Polish subordinate was ranked satellite fig 1 erstwhile she provided a illustration containing the angina medicine trimetazidine successful an out-of-competition trial connected 12 August.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the effect was caused by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medicine melatonin, manufactured and sold successful Poland, which Swiatek took for pitchy lag and slumber issues.

Her level of responsibility was truthful considered to beryllium astatine the lowest extremity of the scope for "No Significant Fault oregon Negligence".

Swiatek was provisionally suspended from 22 September until 4 October but the suspension was not made public.

Instead, the 3 tournaments the 23-year-old missed were attributed to idiosyncratic matters and a alteration of coach.

The satellite fig 2 volition stay suspended until 4 December to marque up the month, arsenic good arsenic forfeit her prize wealth for reaching the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open, the tourney which straight followed the test.

'Tremendous accent and anxiety'

She wrote connected Instagram: "I'm yet allowed... truthful I instantly privation to stock with you thing that became the worst acquisition of my life.

"In the past 2.5 months I was taxable to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence.

"The lone affirmative doping trial successful my career, showing unbelievably debased level of a banned substance I've ne'er heard astir before, enactment everything I've worked truthful hard for my full beingness into question.

"Both maine and my squad had to woody with tremendous accent and anxiety. Now everything has been cautiously explained, and with a cleanable slate I tin spell backmost to what I emotion most. I cognize I volition beryllium stronger than ever.

"I'm leaving with you a agelong video and close present I'm conscionable relieved it's over. I privation to beryllium unfastened with you, adjacent though I cognize I did thing wrong."

Read much from Sky News:
Gregg Wallace quits MasterChef
Transport caput admits pleading blameworthy to offence
How Russia is avoiding detection with Ukraine strikes

Drug cardinal to different high-profile doping cases

The Women's Tennis Association backed Swiatek, saying: "The WTA afloat supports Iga during this hard time.

"Iga has consistently demonstrated a beardown committedness to just play and upholding the principles of cleanable sport, and this unfortunate incidental highlights the challenges athletes look successful navigating the usage of medications and supplements."

Trimetazidine has been cardinal to respective different high-profile doping cases, including 23 Chinese swimmers controversially cleared to vie and the Russian teenage fig skater Kamila Valieva investigating affirmative for the substance.