Former World No. 4 declares Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Simona Halep’s doping cases are ‘absolute tragedies’
Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Simona Halep failed drug tests but they were victims of accidental contamination.
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Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, Simona Halep (Images via X)
There are many players who never thought of enhancing their performances by consuming a banned drug but failed the dope tests by accidental consumption, inviting massive controversy, especially when they were at the top of the game. This season saw two such cases, of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, while Simona Halep made her return to the tour following her nine-month ban.
Halep was contaminated by ruxadustat, while Sinner was by anabolic steroid clostebol. World No.2 Swiatek on the other hand had trimetazidine (TMZ) in her sample. These three players have been declared innocent and former World No.4 Guy Forget claimed innocent players are prevented from ‘living their passion’ when they fall victim to accidental contamination.
There are so many players who take food supplements and vitamins, who can take polluted elements, and who, even without knowing it, lead to positive tests. It is an absolute tragedy for those who are innocent – I am not talking about those who are guilty and repeat offenders.
Guy Forget told Tennis Actu
Ruxadustant entered Halep’s body due to a contaminated supplement. In Sinner’s case, it was due to him receiving a massage from his ex-physio who was using a spray that had clostebol. Swiatek was taking regulated medication melatonin which was contaminated with TMZ.
Guy Forget criticizes ITIA for its judgment on Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s doping cases
Although Guy Forget doesn’t doubt the innocence of Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, he was not a fan of how the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) handled these cases. Simona Halep at first was given a four-year ban but she fought against the ruling by approaching the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following which her ban was reduced to nine months.
Sinner, despite failing the dope test twice, did not face a lengthy suspension and the same verdict was given in Swiatek’s case, as she was handed just a one-month ban. ITIA has been accused of double standard for giving out the verdict in favor of the two top players. Forget also thinks the same.
The problem is that there cannot be a two-speed regulation. You cannot suspend one player for a year and the other for three weeks. It’s a bit of this double standard that would pose a problem.
Guy Forget told Tennis Actu
Though Sinner escaped a severe punishment from ITIA, he could waste probably a year on the sidelines if CAS’ ruling in February comes out against him. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed to the CAS to demand the ban.
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Gouri Das
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