Swiatek terms suspension ´a horror and nightmare´

Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek described her recent doping suspension as a "horror and nightmare" while emphasizing her determination to prove her innocence, reported Xinhua.

Swiatek, 23, tested positive for trace amounts of Trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample taken on August 12. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on November 28 that the violation was unintentional, attributing the positive test to contamination in a regulated melatonin product she used for jet lag and sleep issues. Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension, retroactively served, allowing her to compete again by December 4.

"My reaction was very intense—confusion, panic, a lot of crying," Swiatek told Polish media. "It felt like something terrible had happened to my health or career."

The Pole revealed she spent significant resources -- $70,000 on legal fees and €15,000 on expert tests -- to clear her name. "The most important thing was to prove my innocence," she said.

Swiatek expressed relief that the ordeal ended swiftly. "I can start the new season with a clean slate and focus on playing," she concluded.