“You have to trust that they’re coming to the right conclusion”: Jessica Pegula trusts ITIA’s decision on Iga Swiatek’s suspension

World No. 7 Jessica Pegula weighed in on the doping case involving her colleague Iga Swiatek, defending the explanation provided for the suspension of the five-time Grand Slam champion. The Polish player is serving a one-month suspension, set to conclude during the off-season.

World No. 2 Swiatek’s case is the latest doping controversy, reminiscent of Jannik Sinner’s earlier this year. In Swiatek’s situation, Trimetazidine entered her system after consuming melatonin contaminated with the banned substance. It was determined that there was no negligence but fault due to purchasing melatonin from a source not recommended by the ITIA.

As in Sinner’s case, many were frustrated that the situation was not immediately disclosed. Swiatek served a provisional suspension during the Asian Swing, although this was not public at the time. Following her appeal, she was allowed to return to the Tour late in the season.

Unlike players like Nick Kyrgios or Denis Shapovalov, Pegula avoided controversy and expressed confidence in the ITIA’s investigation. “I don’t know, it seems like they investigated it and she had her reasoning,” Pegula told the media in New York earlier this week. “You have to trust that they’re doing their job—that they’re coming to the right conclusion.”

“I think it’s just frustrating for people on the outside—or even for some players—that it just seems so hit or miss with how people get punished. I’ve been explained why it happens. But at the same time it’s like ‘Yeah, but how does this vary so deeply?’ And I think that can be frustrating. But how it was explained to me, it seems pretty cut and dried almost,” Pegula said. “And the explanation made sense.”

Although Swiatek is serving her suspension during the off-season, Pegula noted that her colleague already served part of it during the Asian Swing, which may have impacted her chances of finishing the year as World No. 1. “You’re kind of wondering how that works when you’re not competing how it doesn’t seem to affect anything so it’s really not much of a punishment,”

“But I mean she did miss the Asian swing and that also may have hurt her chances for the year-end No. 1, which is obviously massive for her,” the 2024 US Open runner-up sai. “Money-wise and sponsors and being able to have that No. 1 spot hurt too. So I’m sure she didn’t want to miss those.”