Iga Świątek, the acclaimed five-time Grand Slam winner, recently expressed shock following the results of her doping case. Świątek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine, known for its ability to enhance endurance. Last year, after testing positive, she accepted a one-month suspension. Investigations revealed that her melatonin supply, which she used to aid sleep, was contaminated.
In a separate case, Jannik Sinner tested positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, although at low levels. Sinner attributed this to "inadvertent contamination" from treatment by his physiotherapist. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in August that Sinner was not at fault, allowing him to avoid suspension. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is challenging this decision. WADA has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with proceedings scheduled for April 16-17.
Amid these doping controversies, Emma Raducanu prepares to face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday in the first round of this year's Australian Open. Raducanu shared that she had been severely bitten by insects during her tournament preparations. Her decision to endure the discomfort without medication highlights a growing concern over doping in tennis.
"Yesterday, for example, I got really badly bitten by like ants, mosquitoes, something. I’m allergic, I guess, so they flared up and swelled up really a lot." – Emma Raducanu
Raducanu revealed that due to heightened doping anxieties across the sport, she opted against using medication, even declining a natural antiseptic spray.
"Someone was giving me this antiseptic spray, you know, natural, to try and ease the bites but I didn’t want to take it. I didn’t want to spray it." – Emma Raducanu
She elaborated on her decision to avoid any potential risks associated with medication.
"I was just going to tough it out because I don’t want to risk it." – Emma Raducanu
Raducanu emphasized the sensitivity among players regarding substances they use because of the ongoing doping concerns.
"I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take onboard, and what we use." – Emma Raducanu
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