Former World Number 1 Tennis Player Simona Halep Criticizes Iga Swiatek's Sentence

JAKARTA The former world number one and two Grand Slam champion, Simona Halep, has criticized Iga Swiatek for a month's sentence for doping.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Thursday, November 28, 2024, that Swiatek tested positive for using a trimetazidine (TMZ) banned substance so that it would serve a month's sentence.

Halep, who was previously caught in a similar problem and was unable to compete for 18 months due to the violation of two separate doping cases, then criticized the decision.

The Romanian tennis player was surprised why ITIA used a different approach to his and Swiatek cases.

"I stand up and ask myself why there are big differences in treatment and judgment?" wrote Halep on Instagram, as reported by BBC Sport.

Halep was temporarily suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for using the forbidden oxadustate. It is an anti-anemia drug that functions to stimulate the production of red blood cells in the body.

The 33-year-old was later banned from playing for four years, but later reduced to nine months in March 2024 after an appeal at the Sports Court (CAS).

Halep always maintains that he is innocent and argues that he is taking the same contaminated supplements that Swiatek experienced.

"I lost two years in my career. I lost a lot of nights when I couldn't sleep, thought, anxiety, questions without answers," reads the follow-up to the post.

The TMZ that Swiatek consumed was a heart drug in samples outside the competition in August 2024 when he was still the world's number one tennis player.

ITIA explained that the five-time Grand Slam title winner was contaminated with melatonin drugs without a prescription, which were produced and sold in Poland. This drug is consumed by Swiatek to deal with jet lag and sleeping problems.

"No two cases are the same, often involving different circumstances, and comparing the two doesn't always help," said an ITIA spokesperson.

The ban on Swiatek occurred after the world number one athlete, Jannik Sinner, tested positive for CLostebol in March 2024.

ITIA has mentioned that there are no mistakes or negligence attached to the 23-year-old Italian player. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has launched an appeal to CAS.

"We handle every case based on facts and evidence, not names, ratings, or player citizenship. If a banned substance is found in the player's body, we will investigate it thoroughly."

"We urge the players to be very careful when taking supplements. We are always happy to answer any questions they raise," said ITIA.