Iga Swiatek is free to play after the World Anti-Doping Agency said it would not appeal a ban imposed for testing positive for a banned substance.
WADA announced its decision just minutes after five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, sealed a 6-0 6-1 victory against Eva Lys to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
World number 2 tested positive for trimetazidine in August, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the adverse finding was the result of contamination of an over-the-counter drug.
The ITIA imposed a one-month suspension on the 23-year-old Pole, and after reviewing the evidence, WADA has now said it will not delay the matter any further.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nick Kyrgios has criticized the doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, saying the handling was “horrendous” and that “the treatment must be fair for everyone”.
“WADA's scientific experts have confirmed that the specific scenario of contaminated melatonin, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible and that there would be no scientific basis to challenge it at the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport),” and it is stated in the announcement of WADA.
“Furthermore, WADA sought advice from external legal counsel, who considered that the Athlete's explanation of contamination was well substantiated, that the ITIA's decision was in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and that there was no reasonable basis for appeal to CAS. “
Swiatek was temporarily suspended from Sept. 22 to Oct. 4, but it was not made public, and the three tournaments the 23-year-old missed were attributed to personal matters and a coaching change.
Swiatek then served an additional eight days until Dec. 4 to make up the month.
WADA has appealed Jannik Sinner's release and a hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April
WADA appealed the decisions taken by the ITIA over the current world no. 1 for men Jannik Sinner.
Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March, but the ITIA accepted it was due to accidental contamination.
WADA contested the ruling and asked that the Italian – who won last year's US Open title shortly after the test was announced – be banned from the sport for between one and two years.
CAS will hear WADA's appeal in the Sinner case on April 16 and 17.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream from NOW and The Sky Sports appgiving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Learn more here.