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ZIMBABWE tennis ace Benjamin Lock has shared his views regarding the one-month suspension handed to five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek’s suspension was announced on Thursday after she allegedly tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medication, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The positive test resulted from an out-of-competition screening in August.
Lock weighed in on the matter via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, suggesting he believes the playing field is not entirely level for all players.
“One-month ban. It’s not even April Fool’s Day. Don’t play with us like that. Two number ones in the world failing drug tests in the same year is wild. People are missing the point. It’s not about whether or not the substance in their body improved their performance. These athletes are at the top of our sport and are remarkable with or without it. It’s the fact that the rules are applied differently.
“I’m glad their careers are not being destroyed. The drug testing nowadays is so invasive, and you’re constantly on a knife’s edge, being paranoid about what you consume. The point is that they are picking and choosing who to bring down with the full extent of the law,” Lock posted.
The celebrated Zimbabwe tennis star added that big players will always seemingly be favoured over others ‘who do not bring anything to the game’. The latter, he believes, will always be used as guinea pigs to ‘send a message’.
“The trust is gone, along with integrity. They’ve set a precedent that if you are a superstar and bring money to the sport, loopholes and ‘judgment’ will be applied in your favour. If you don’t bring any value to the sport, they don’t hesitate in destroying you and making an example. (sic)
“I believe everyone should have a chance to defend themselves, and if it was a mistake or contamination, an athlete shouldn’t have their career ruined. But be fair to everyone and make it TRANSPARENT and CONSISTENT. Clean sport and fair due process,” he posted.
The ITIA determined that the results of the test were unintentional, caused by contamination from a non-prescription medication, melatonin, which Swiatek had used to manage jet lag and sleep issues.
Swiatek’s suspension began on September 12 and was retroactively served through October 4, during which she missed three tournaments: the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open. At the time, Swiatek had cited personal reasons for her absence.
Now, with just eight days remaining on her suspension, she will be eligible to return to competition on Monday, coinciding with a period of no scheduled tournaments.
Swiatek’s case follows another high-profile doping controversy in tennis.
Italian star Jannik Sinner faced allegations earlier this year after failing two tests for steroids in March.
He was cleared in August, just in time for the US Open, where he claimed his second Grand Slam title. –— @brandon_malvin
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