Novak Djokovic-led PTPA executive director Ahmad Nassar has slammed the WTA’s handling of the most recent doping controversy in tennis – that of Iga Swiatek. The Polish player tested positive for a banned substance during an out-of-competition doping test which invoked a provisional suspension. That suspension lasted about three weeks until Swiatek appealed the case.
Similarly to Jannik Sinner, she provided an appeal within the 10-day period ascribed by the rules. As her appeal was accepted, Swiatek was allowed to return to the competition, which she did, playing a couple of events since it happened in October. Much like how the Sinner situation was handled, this too was largely kept under wraps, with the news of it only breaking recently.
The PTPA executive director Ahmad Nassar was not impressed with the way the situation was handled.
“I’m sorry. This was not an “unfortunate incident.” A real unfortunate incident is something you cannot control. Tennis can – and should! – no, must! – control its own anti-doping process,” PTPA executive director Ahmad Nassar on the situation surrounding Iga Swiatek.
The saga once again created lots of headlines with players and organizations reacting to it in real-time. It also raised some questions about the integrity of the process because ultimately Iga Swiatek was handed a one-month suspension which will have her sit out the start of the 2024 season.
It could have easily forced her to miss the Australian Open, but luckily, having missed time already due to the procedure, Swiatek will only need to serve eight more days of suspension.
PTPA Executive Director dissects the WTA statement on Iga Swiatek’s doping saga
The PTPA issued a similar statement when Jannik Sinner endured his saga. Both Nassar and Novak Djokovic called on the tennis authorities to create a more transparent system which ultimately seeks to help the players instead of punish them.
As Nassar pointed out in his statement, there is nothing Iga Swiatek could have done to prevent this from happening, so being punished, even as little as she was, was too much and unfair.
“Athletes indeed face “challenges.” Like, the weather. And their opponents. But the messy, tennis-establishment imposed anti-doping process is not some “challenge” athletes must overcome. That’s a cop-out,” Nassar wrote on X.
Plenty of players have talked negatively about the whole doping control setup that is in place in tennis. Players like Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev have noted that it’s not really fair for the players, and Nassar agrees.
