Iga ΕwiΔ tek, the world No. 2 tennis player, received a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the banned substance likely entered her system through contamination of an over-the-counter sleep aid she used to address jet lag and sleep issues.
ΕwiΔ tek accepted the suspension, which was backdated to cover the period from September 22 to October 4, 2024, leaving her with eight days remaining to serve. As a result, she forfeited her prize money from the Cincinnati Open, amounting to $158,944.
In a statement, ΕwiΔ tek described this experience as the “toughest battle in my life” and emphasized her commitment to maintaining a clean sport.
This incident has sparked discussions about the responsibilities athletes have regarding the substances they consume and the importance of transparency in anti-doping processes.