World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has expressed relief and satisfaction following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision not to appeal the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) ruling in her doping case. Speaking after her emphatic victory over Eva Lys at the Australian Open, the five-time Grand Slam champion underlined her desire to move forward after the controversy.
Swiatek had been under scrutiny for a doping violation during the offseason, which resulted in a one-month ban. However, the ITIA accepted her explanation of contamination, a decision WADA has now chosen not to challenge. In a statement, WADA noted that Swiatek’s contamination explanation was “well evidenced” and confirmed there was “no reasonable basis” to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
This development ensures that Swiatek will not face any further sanctions and can fully focus on her tennis career. The timing of WADA’s announcement, which coincided with Swiatek’s Australian Open campaign, drew comparisons to Jannik Sinner’s ongoing doping case, which is set for a CAS hearing in April. Swiatek, however, can now put the matter to rest.
“Closure and Moving On”
Following her commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lys, Swiatek shared her thoughts in a press conference.
“Well, for sure I’m just satisfied that I can get a closure, kind of, and I can just move on and, like, finish this whole process, because, you know, I just want to play tennis and focus on the tournament,” she said.
Swiatek emphasized that those who reviewed the case thoroughly understood the circumstances and supported her stance. “I think anybody who, like, read the documents and know details about the case, they understand. In the locker room, has been also pretty nice. You know, the girls are understanding,” she added.
The Polish star expressed gratitude for the support she has received and reiterated her determination to focus on her game. “For sure, I’m happy that people understand. Now I just want to put this behind me because I have already been on tour for quite a few weeks, and it’s all been good.”
Looking Ahead at the Australian Open
With the doping controversy resolved, Swiatek is free to concentrate on her pursuit of another Grand Slam title. Her dominant performance against Lys sets up an exciting quarterfinal clash with World No. 8 Emma Navarro. As Swiatek continues to impress on the court, the resolution of this off-court issue offers her a renewed sense of focus and determination.
For Swiatek, the WADA decision marks the end of a challenging chapter and the beginning of a brighter, controversy-free future.
