MELBOURNE, Australia — Iga Swiatek expressed relief and satisfaction after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced it would not appeal her case regarding a positive drug test for the banned substance trimetazidine. WADA’s decision was made public shortly after the five-time Grand Slam champion achieved a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory against German player Eva Lys in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Swiatek said, “For sure, I’m just satisfied that I can get closure and I can just move on and finish this whole process, because I just want to play tennis and focus on the tournament,” according to AP News.

The controversy began when Swiatek tested positive last August, leading to a provisional one-month suspension. However, she was later exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after presenting a plausible explanation: the positive result stemmed not from intentional doping, but from contamination with a non-prescription melatonin supplement she took to alleviate sleep issues. WADA stated that based on a thorough review, there were no scientific grounds for contesting the ITIA's ruling according to Reuters.

WADA released its official statement on Monday, indicating that its scientific experts validated Swiatek’s claim regarding the contamination. This conclusion allowed her to participate fully in the tournament without the shadow of ongoing legal challenges or appeals, a relief for both the player and her supporters. “The specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible,” WADA confirmed, easing Swiatek's tensions as she returned to high-level competition. The top player commented on the supportive atmosphere in the locker room, highlighting understanding from her fellow athletes during her challenging period.

While Swiatek's case is resolved, men's world No. 1 Jannik Sinner remains under scrutiny after testing positive for clostebol. WADA has appealed his exoneration, with hearings scheduled for April at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Nevertheless, for now, Swiatek can put this chapter behind her as she focuses entirely on her performance in the Australian Open.