WADA Declines Appeal in Iga Swiatek Doping Case

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has decided not to appeal the one-month ban imposed on Iga Swiatek after she tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. WADA's review found that Swiatek's explanation of contamination from non-prescription melatonin was plausible, leading the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to conclude that her violation was unintentional. Swiatek, who described the period of her suspension as 'chaotic' and 'the worst time in my life,' returned to competition and reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. In contrast, WADA is appealing the exoneration of men's world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who also tested positive for a steroid but was deemed not negligent by the ITIA. A hearing regarding Sinner's case is set for April at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The contrasting decisions highlight the complexities of doping regulations in professional tennis.