Aryna Sabalenka believes in ‘clean sports’ as she comments on Iga Swiatek’s doping scandal for the first time
Aryna Sabalenka, who is Abu Dhabi for the World Tennis League, made her feelings known about Iga Swiatek's doping controversy.
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Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka (Images via X)
Aryna Sabalenka spoke on Iga Swiatek‘s doping case for the very first time. Even though the tennis world is divided between those who support the Pole and those who criticize her, Sabalenka chose not to be on either side.
Swiatek failed the dope test in August before the Cincinnati Open and faced a three-week suspension. During the suspension, it was found that the regulated medication melatonin, which she had been consuming to deal with sleep and jetlag issues was contaminated with the banned drug trimetazidine.
For failing the test, she was handed a one-month ban (which included the provisional suspension) and the prize money she won by reaching the semifinals in Cincinnati was forfeited. Swiatek also missed three tournaments while she was banned and her missing them affected her rankings.
She was dethroned from the top by Sabalenka, who is 4-8 in their head-to-head encounter. The 26-year-old, when asked about the doping scandal, has now refused to take any sides and simply said she believes in clean sports.
People are really used to overreacting before figuring stuff out, so I don’t want to leave any comments. I believe in clean sport and nothing else I can add.
Aryna Sabalenka told The National
Along with Swiatek’s suspension, Sabalenka reached the top of the rankings thanks to her performances on the hard court events as she made deep runs in every tournament and also won the Cincinnati Open, US Open, and the Wuhan Open.
Aryna Sabalenka will be bidding for the third Australian Open title in the 2025 season
Aryna Sabalenka is looking forward to winning the Australian Open for the third time on the trot. If she wins, she will become the first woman since Martia Hingis in 1999 to complete a threepeat Down Under.
It would mean a lot. I think the key is just to focus on yourself and on bringing your best each time you play, whether it’s Australia or any other country, you just have to bring your best every time and hope for the best.
Aryna Sabalenka told The National
The Belarusian won her first Major in singles at the 2023 Australian Open by defeating Elena Rybakina and defended her crown in 2024 by breezing past Qinwen Zheng. Sabalenka is currently in Abu Dhabi for the third season of the World Tennis League which will conclude on Sunday (December 22).
She will begin her campaign for the 2025 season at the Brisbane International where, in 2024, she was defeated by Rybakina in the final.
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Gouri Das
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