Former world No 3 Nikolay Davydenko has weighed in on Iga Swiatek’s ban from tennis for failing a doping test. 

The 21-time ATP titlist commented that “corruption is everywhere”, but defended Swiatek by asserting “you will not become number one in the world thanks to doping.”

Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned metabolic agent, on August 12 ahead of the Cincinnati Open.

On November 28, it was announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that Swiatek had received a one-month suspension as it was deemed she carried “no significant fault or negligence.”

The five-time Grand Slam champion also had to forfeit the 390 ranking points and $159,000 she earned for reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati.

The ITIA accepted Swiatek’s explanation that the substance entered her body due to the contamination of non-prescription medication she had been using for jet lag and sleep issues.

The 23-year-old Pole was provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4, meaning she had already served 22 days of her ban on the day the news emerged. She was forced to miss WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan during the suspension period.

The world No 2 returned to action at the WTA Finals in Riyadh at the start of November before ending her season at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga. Swiatek is now free to play as she has served the month’s suspension.

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Speaking to Match TV, Davydenko labelled the current doping rules “nonsense” and argued the situation was better when he was active on the tour.

“You go to the pharmacy, take a pill for the bronchi, and there is salbutamol, which is considered doping. You always need to be in contact with a sports doctor — this is such nonsense,” the Russian said.

“You will not play better because of a pill. Tennis is tennis, you will not become number one in the world thanks to doping. It used to be easier to regulate doping, but now it has become worse.

“Some kind of nonsense started. When I played, it was easier. We were also pressed, but we took it normally. I wasn’t particularly worried, I drank and ate everywhere, without even thinking about the fact that I could use doping.

“I don’t know why they tightened the control so much — there is no result. The ATP needs to figure this out. Because in general, it is a very cool organisation that is loyal to the players.”

Davydenko also rubbished the suggestion that Swiatek received different treatment to Romania’s Simona Halep because she is Polish.

“As for me, Poland and Romania are two identical countries. Ask anyone in Russia — no one perceives Poland. This is nonsense,” he declared.

“I don’t know what the issue is: maybe sponsors, maybe money. Is it possible that the President of Poland decided the issue for Swiatek? Anything is possible, corruption is everywhere.”

Halep was given a four-year ban from tennis in September last year after testing positive for the banned blood doping agent Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.

In March, the Romanian’s ban was reduced to nine months following her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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