Tennis star Iga Swiatek has admitted she feared her reputation would be in tatters following a positive doping test result earlier this year – before raising eyebrows when she declared ‘obviously there are going to be some negative comments’ in a likely swipe at Aussie Nick Kyrgios.
It comes after Kyrgios was vocal in his criticism after the four-week ban issued to Swiatek and men’s world number one Jannik Sinner escaping any sanction for the same offence.
Five-time grand slam winner Swiatek, 23, tested positive in an out-of-competition sample in August to a banned substance.
The world number two was given a one-month ban by the ITIA, who accepted the test outcome was caused by a contamination to her sleeping medication.
Sinner, the defending Australian Open champion, escaped a ban in August despite failing two anti-doping tests.
The sport was then rocked by a third doping saga when Aussie Max Purcell entered a voluntary provisional suspension after admitting to breaching the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).
Tennis star Iga Swiatek has admitted she feared the reaction to her positive doping test – before declaring ‘there are going to be some negative comments’ in a possible swipe at Nick Kyrgios
It comes after Kyrgios was vocal in his criticism after the four-week ban issued to Swiatek and men’s world number one Jannik Sinner escaping any sanction for the same offence
Kyrgios tweeted on X ‘our sport is cooked’ after Iga Swiatek’s ban issued in August
The Aussie was dumbfounded part of Jannik Sinner’s defence was the use of massage cream
World number one Sinner will look to defend his Australian Open crown in January
The sport was then rocked by a third doping saga when Aussie Max Purcell (pictured) entered a voluntary provisional suspension after admitting to breaching the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) just before Christmas
‘This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe,’ Purcell posted on Instagram before Christmas once the development went public.
‘I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me. I look forward to being back on the court soon.’
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of her United Cup campaign in Sydney, Swiatek was ‘really appreciative’ she hasn’t been subjected to intense criticism.
‘The reaction in Poland basically – because this is mostly what I read – has been pretty supportive,’ she said.
‘I really, really appreciate that because even, you know, when I missed the China swing and nobody knew why it wasn’t so easy.
‘After the information about my case was released, I was scared that most people are going to turn their back on me but I felt the support and it’s great.’
Swiatek also doesn’t expect WADA to appeal her case – and had a message for those questioning her integrity.
‘Obviously there are going to be some negative comments and you’re not going to avoid that,’ she said.
‘That’s something that is always going to follow us no matter what happens.’
