Yevgeny Kafelnikov appeared to react to the news of Iga Swiatek testing positive for a banned substance as the former two-time Grand Slam champion says it is "a shame what is happening to tennis."
ADVERTISEMENT
On Thursday, the ITIA announced that one of the samples provided by the Pole in August came back as positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) and that she was provisionally suspended in September before accepting a one-month ban on November 27th. At the time, the world No. 2 was taking some melatonin medication to help her with sleep - it turned out to be contaminated - and that's how a positive doping test happened.
Previously, the ITIA also revealed in August that Jannik Sinner twice tested positive for clostebol in March but he wasn't suspended after it was determined that he "bore no fault or negligence" for what happened.
Kafelnikov - who played on the Tour between 1992 and 2003 and posted a 609-306 record - said he often wonders why he didn't turn to banned substances to enhance his performance. While he didn't specifically mention Swiatek by the name, his posts came after the Pole doping news dropped.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Sometimes I wonder..,'why the hell up Iwas not using steroids thru all of my carrier, so Icould play instead of 170 matches a year to maybe 300?' This is really shame whats happening to tennis now," the former world No. 1 wrote on X.
Kafelnikov would give 'a life ban' for a failed doping test
While Sinner avoided getting a provisional suspension or any kind of ban, his case drew lots of controversy and negative attention, with some going as far as alleging that double standards were involved and that the Italian wasn't banned only because of his status. However, he may still get suspended after the CAS didn't accept the ITIA's ruling.
Now, the tennis world is rocked by another high-profile player failing a doping test and there will probably be lots of talks about this in the upcoming weeks.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist Kafelnikov's eyes, there should be one and only sanction for a failed doping test.
"It should be LIFE ban for anybody who gets caught using ban substances! NO excuses and ZERO tolerance no matter who your are!!!!" the Russian tennis legend said.
Also, the 50-year-old suggested that the Sinner and Swiatek cases are setting negative examples.
"And the sad part to all of this is that young and upcoming players(12-16 years old) look at they idols and think maybe its normal to use steroids in the future and get away with this! Current players setting bad examples for young generations," the former two-time Grand Slam champion stated.
ADVERTISEMENT
What the ITIA said about the Swiatek case?
According to the report, the 23-year-old turned to melatonin pills to help her with sleep issues but didn't know that it was contaminated with a banned substance. And after the five-time Grand Slam champion presented her defense, the ITIA accepted that the Pole didn't knowingly or intentionally take something prohibited.
"The ITIA accepted that the positive test was caused by the contamination of a regulated non-prescription medication (melatonin), manufactured and sold in Poland that the player had been taking for jet lag and sleep issues, and that the violation was therefore not intentional," the ITIA said.
Also, the ITIA added: "The players level of fault was considered to be at the lowest end of the range for No Significant Fault or Negligence.'"
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, Swiatek described it as "the worst experience of my life." Also, she claimed that she even didn't know what TMZ was.
"Im finally allowed so I instantly want to share with you something that became the worst experience of my life. In the last 2.5 months I was subject to strict ITIA proceedings, which confirmed my innocence. The only positive doping test in my career, showing unbelievably low level of a banned substance Ive never heard about before, put everything Ive worked so hard for my entire life into question. Both me and my Team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety. Now everything has been carefully explained, and with a clean slate I can go back to what I love most," the former world No. 1 wrote on Instagram.
ADVERTISEMENT
Since Swiatek's suspension will expire before the start of the 2025 season, she will be able to compete at the Australian Open.
