Tennis star Iga Swiatek accepts 1-month suspension for banned substance

Women’s tennis star Iga Swiatek, the victor of 5 Grand Slams, has accepted a one-month suspension aft investigating affirmative for a banned substance, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced connected Thursday. 

Swiatek, who has been ranked No. 1 successful the world for astir of the past 2 seasons, tested affirmative for trimetazidine, a bosom medicine amended known arsenic TMZ, successful an out-of-competition trial backmost successful August. 

The ITIA accepted her mentation that the results weren’t intentional, saying it was caused by contamination of a nonprescription medication, melatonin, which she uses for issues with pitchy lag and sleeping. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Iga Swiatek of Team Poland celebrates her triumph against Irina-Camelia Bego of Team Romania during the Women's Singles First Round connected time 1 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 astatine Roland Garros connected July 27. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The ITIA stated that Swiatek’s level of responsibility was "at the lowest extremity of the scope for nary important responsibility oregon negligence."

Swiatek was antecedently suspended from Sept. 12 to Oct. 4, missing 3 tournaments implicit that span — Korea Open, China Open and Wuhan Open — though she said astatine the clip it was owed to idiosyncratic reasons.

US TENNIS STAR DANIELLE COLLINS RIPS POLAND'S IGA SWIATEK AFTER OLYMPICS MATCH: ‘I DON’T NEED THE FAKENESS'

Swiatek has lone 8 days remaining connected the punishment, which volition beryllium served portion there’s nary competition.

So, she volition beryllium cleared to instrumentality connected Monday. 

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates her triumph implicit Coco Gauff of the United States successful the semifinal connected Day 12 of the French Open astatine Roland Garros successful Paris connected June 6. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Along with the suspension, Swiatek has to forfeit $158,944 of prize wealth from the Cincinnati Open, which she played successful aft failing the test. She yet mislaid successful the semifinals.

In an Instagram video, Swiatek reacted to the ITIA’s decision, calling it the "worst acquisition of my life."

"In the past 2 and a fractional months, I was taxable to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence," Swiatek said successful the video. "The lone affirmative doping trial successful my career, showing unbelievably debased level of a banned substance I've ne'er heard astir before, enactment everything I've worked truthful hard for my full beingness into question.

"Both maine and my squad had to woody with tremendous accent and anxiety. Now everything has been cautiously explained, and with a cleanable slate I tin spell backmost to what I emotion most."

Iga Swiatek practices up of the Omnium Banque Nationale connected Aug. 4, 2023.  (Patrice Lapointe/Tennis Canada via Omnium Banque Nationale)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Another high-profile doping lawsuit came successful tennis with Jannik Sinner, who failed 2 tests for a steroid successful March. He was yet cleared successful August close earlier the US Open, which helium went connected to triumph for his 2nd Grand Slam. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.