“I’m confident that she’s innocent,” Wim Fissette reacts to Iga Swiatek doping saga
Wim Fissette believes that Iga Swiatek is innocent following her doping controversy after testing positive for trimetazidine.
Follow Us
Iga Swiatek, Wim Fissette (Images via X)
Iga Swiatek’s doping saga has sent shocking waves through the tennis community. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed that the Polish star had no significant fault or negligence about her failed Anti-Doping test. In the wake of this, her coach, Wim Fissette has revealed that former World No.1 is innocent.
Fissette parted ways with Naomi Osaka after the US Open and the Belgian coach was hired by Swiatek a month later. The partnership has been growing and doesn’t seem likely to break, even after the ITIA recently announced that she failed a drug test. But, the doping incident, was during when Swiatek was with her long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
The ITIA revealed that Swiatek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) following an out-of-competition sample collected in August. She was handed a one-month suspension but she served only three weeks of it before it was lifted so that she could compete at the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga.
Swiatek missed the entirety of the Asian swing which she revealed at that time was because of personal reasons. Now, it is clear it was because of the doping case. However, her coach, Wim Fissette, revealed during an interview that he is confident of her innocence in the doping saga.
Trust is a foundation of good relationships in our team from the very beginning. Iga told me about the case and left me the decision about our cooperation. I have been observing her for a long time, her values, her work ethic, her standards. I was confident that she is innocent from the start, so it did not influence my decision about joining the team.
Wim Fissette said via The National
Nonetheless, several WTA and ATP players, including Taylor Fritz, Eugenie Bouchard, and Denis Shapovalov, have slammed the ITIA for its partiality in dealing with doping cases. Also, many pundits have revealed that the failed drug test has caused a major blow within the tennis community.
Iga Swiatek’s coach believes she will regain World No.1
Iga Swiatek began the first half of the year on fire, winning five titles, including the French Open. However, in the second half, she failed to reach fans’ expectations. She lost her World No.1 position after skipping the entirety of the Asian swing. She also failed to defend the WTA Finals title after exiting in the round-robin stage.
The recent doping controversy has added more to Swiatek’s disappointing second half of the season. However, Wim Fissette believes the World No.2 is a fighter and will get past her situation off the court.
It was an extremely stressful and difficult situation for Iga and for the whole team. Nevertheless, Iga is a fighter on and off court, this was another tough battle she won. Now we will focus together on the next season supporting each other and working as a team.
Wim Fissette said
Swiatek will look forward to regaining her World No.1 position from Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 season. The Polish star’s first test will be at the Australian Open, which she has never won in her career.
Stay Updated!
Victor Okechukwu
(688 Articles Published)