“The No1 in the world couldn’t ask WTA to fast track ship her some?”: Players react to Swiatek’s one-month drugs ban

Soon after the news of Iga Swiatek‘s positive test and one-month suspension was announced on Thursday, there were reactions from several tennis players, who took to social media to share their thoughts.

Great Britain’s Tara Moore, who had been suspended for 19 months due to a positive test arising out of contamination in June 2022, posted a series of tweets on the announcement.

“I took 19 months off as I had to make a “change to my team” too guys. Let’s not forget, mine was also contamination, and 2 other people also tested positive yet ITIA are appealing my case. why is no one seriously looking into the corruption of the organisations that govern us?,” Moore said in one tweet.

“Sorry but we get USANA products for free and they also supply melatonin. You’re saying the No1 in the world couldn’t ask WTA to fast track ship her some? I mean I don’t even take anything that’s NOT USANA and I’m a lowly ranked player,” she said in another.

Moore also called for the governing bodies of tennis to investigate the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) in another tweet.

“When will the @WTA, @atptour, @ITFTennis, @Wimbledon, @usopen, @rolandgarros, @AustralianOpen investigate the ITIA & their procedures for a more fair/ open approach? The @ptpaplayers cannot do this alone! Players are afraid of the institutions that are supposed to protect us! Ask them!”

Germany’s Eva Lys supported Moore, asking why the Brit did not get a one-month suspension as hers was also a case of contamination.

Canadian tennis player Denis Shapovalov chipped in with a short tweet which said, “1 month ban eh”. The left-hander posted some responses to comments on his tweet adding, “that doesn’t make it fair that players Halep and others had a crazy long bans for similar things. I’m glad it’s changing because the doping rules are unfair. But guys like Ymer are still suspended and he’s never even tested positive.”

American Taylor Fritz did not comment on the Swiatek case itself but instead said he found it difficult to comprehend how fans online were unable to keep their personal biases aside and judge any specific issue.

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