Top 20 WTA player struggles to understand the difference in treatment following Iga Swiatek’s doping row
In the 'New Balls Please' podcast, Bia Haddad Maia explains struggles to understand difference in treatment following Iga Swiatek's doping row.
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Iga Swiatek (image via Instagram)
Beatriz Haddad Maia recently appeared as a special guest on the ‘New Balls Please’ podcast. Maia discussed her career, plans for 2025, and the challenges she has faced, particularly in dealing with doping controversies. She also spoke about her growth as a player, the addition of new members to her team, her mental approach to the sport, and her role as a trailblazer and inspiration for younger Brazilian tennis players.
Haddad Maia reached a career high of world No. 10 in singles and in doubles, becoming the first Brazilian woman to enter the top 10 in singles since Maria Esther Bueno in 1959. She has had a reasonably successful career with four singles titles and seven doubles titles on the WTA Tour.
Haddad Maia opened up about top players being differently treated compared to players ranked outside the top 20. Her comments come in the wake of Iga Swiatek’s recent suspension.
But the question is how this process is handled, how the judgement is, how the process differs for each decision. You know I think they treat each differently, right? So that’s really sad, isn’t it? Because it’s unfair first off, not everyone can afford a lawyer to begin with. Not everyone will be in the media spotlight, nothing like that, but their case was very similar, wasn’t it? Where they had contamination, be it in cream, vitamin, or medicine, Halep’s case was exactly like others, like it or not, you found contamination in a supplement, my case was exactly the same. Man, it took me 11 months to prove my innocence and I was suspended 11 months so I lost a lot.
Bia Haddad Maia on ‘New Balls Please’ podcast
Haddad Maia began her 2024 season strong at the United Cup and Adelaide International, winning the doubles title with Taylor Townsend. At the Australian Open, she became the first Brazilian woman since 1965 to reach the third round and later advanced to the same stage at the US Open. She won her first WTA 500 singles title in Seoul, overcoming top-seeded Daria Kasatkina.
Top 20 WTA player Beatriz Haddad Maia when talking about the Iga Swiatek failed drugs test case doesn't understand why players are being treated so differently and has never seen a suspension allowed to be taken in instalments before. pic.twitter.com/9U4cCWR3fp
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) December 28, 2024
In 2019, Haddad Maia tested positive for the banned substance furosemide. She was provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and later accepted a ten-month ban after an investigation.
Haddad Maia maintained that the positive result was due to cross-contamination at a pharmacy, a claim supported by evidence provided during the proceedings. The ITF acknowledged her lack of intent to enhance performance and her cooperation in resolving the case. Despite this setback, Haddad Maia returned to the tour in 2020 and worked impressively to rebuild her career, eventually achieving significant milestones, including breaking into the WTA top 10.
Beatriz Haddad Maia on doping controversies and her new plans
In the podcast, Haddad Maia recounted her past experiences with doping-related controversies. She acknowledged that doping is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, while emphasizing the need for more fairness and consistency in the anti-doping system.
Haddad Maia spoke about the strict protocols and precautions she and her team take to ensure compliance with anti-doping regulations. She also commented on the likes of Simona Halep and Iga Swiatek who have been affected by doping bans.
I think only those who’ve been through it truly understand, but we need to be careful and respectful of other athletes as well, because there are many cases that don’t even make it to the media, and they are suspended. There are Brazilians who are suspended, some athletes from other countries are suspended without media attention, often due to contaminated meat. The rule needs to be clearer and more fair. It’s not being fair, is it? This thing about her paying, its nothing against Iga ,okay, its totally against the system.
Bia Haddad Maia on ‘New Balls Please’ podcast
Haddad Maia reflected on a difficult period early in the season, where she struggled to win matches despite training well, and how she eventually regained her confidence and belief. She described how she has become more mentally resilient, refusing to give up even in the face of seemingly insurmountable deficits during matches.
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Anubhav Bajpeyee
(210 Articles Published)