WADA may appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
"As with any such case, WADA will review the ITIA's decision and reserves the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if deemed appropriate," WADA spokesman James Fitzgerald told Polish Press Agency.
On Thursday, it was disclosed that Świątek tested positive in August for trimetazidine (TMZ), a substance categorized as a hormone and metabolic modulator. The sample was collected from the 23-year-old tennis player on August 12, shortly after the conclusion of the Paris Olympic Games, where she won a bronze medal. Świątek was not participating in any tournament at the time.
The ITIA investigation concluded that the positive test resulted from contamination of an over-the-counter melatonin supplement, produced and sold in Poland, which the athlete used for jet lag and sleep issues. The violation was deemed unintentional after interviews with Świątek and her team, as well as investigations and analyses conducted at two WADA-accredited laboratories.
The ITIA stated that it found "no significant fault or negligence" on the part of the player and proposed a one-month suspension. On November 27, Świątek admitted to the anti-doping rule violation and accepted the sanction.
The suspension includes her prior provisional suspension, meaning the 30-day period ends on December 4, allowing her to start the new season without hindrance.
Additionally, she will forfeit her prize money from the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, which she played shortly after the sample was taken. She was eliminated in the semifinals by current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
(jh)
Source: IAR, PAP