Polish pharma company issues statement after backlash over Iga Swiatek doping news

Polish pharmaceutical firm LEK-AM says there are “saddened” to listen to what occurred after Iga Swiatek consumed one in all their manufactured capsules but additionally denied that they failed to reply to the ITIA when contacted. 

On Thursday, the tennis world was shocked by the information of the five-time Grand Slam champion failing a doping check and accepting a one-month ban. In an in depth announcement, it was defined that the 23-year-old examined optimistic for trimetazidine (TMZ), which she ingested after taking melatonin remedy to deal with stress and sleep points. 

After provisionally being suspended and later allowed to return to motion after figuring out the supply of contamination, Swiatek’s one-month ban began on November 27 – however the Pole solely had eight extra days to serve since she served 22 throughout her provisional suspension. 

In her message, the Polish tennis celebrity stated it was “the hardest battle of her life” and one thing that left her feeling very anxious and gave sleepless nights.

Since she has been one of many high and most profitable Polish athletes for a few years now, the corporate that manufactured the remedy acquired sure criticism and backlash in Poland.

“Just like the worldwide public opinion and followers of Ms. Iga Swiatek, we’re saddened by the scenario that has befallen one of the best tennis participant on the planet. We’re deeply moved by Ms. Iga Świątek’s assertion of November 28, 2024, not solely as workers of a pharmaceutical firm, but additionally as followers of Polish sports activities. We declare full cooperation with a view to make clear any doubts,” Przedsiębiorstwo Farmaceutyczne LEK-AM stated in an announcement. 

LEK-AM denies that they did not reply to the ITIA

In response to the Polish pharma firm, the ITIA by no means contacted them immediately regardless of claiming they made quite a few calls and emails. 

“ITIA didn’t contact us immediately. We had been contacted by a regulation agency from Nice Britain, which didn’t point out who it labored for. The regulation agency’s consultant anticipated us to take actions that violated Polish pharmaceutical regulation (Artwork. 36 g sec. 1 merchandise 10 of the Pharmaceutical Legislation Act, Journal of Legal guidelines 2024, merchandise 686), particularly by way of sending medicines to unauthorized individuals. This aroused our mistrust and our lack of response to the initiated contact. From as we speak’s perspective, we’d have made contact,” the assertion continued.

Additionally, the corporate claimed that the remedy in query acquired nothing however very optimistic opinions prior to now.

“We’re sorry that the incident concerned the drug Melatonina LEK-AM 1 mg – particularly since our drug has loved the popularity and belief of medical doctors and sufferers, together with skilled athletes, for a few years. We meet all the very best requirements of drug manufacturing. We observe all procedures associated to the manufacturing of medicines,” they added. 

What the ITIA and Swiatek stated?

After the four-time French Open champion and her crew decided from the place TMZ got here, they pleaded their protection to the ITIA. And after wanting on the proof, the company accepted that the previous world No. 1 did not knowingly or deliberately take one thing that was on the prohibited listing. 

“The ITIA accepted that the optimistic check was brought on by the contamination of a regulated non-prescription remedy (melatonin), manufactured and offered in Poland that the participant had been taking for jet lag and sleep points, and that the violation was subsequently not intentional. This adopted interviews with the participant and their entourage, investigations, and evaluation from two WADA-accredited laboratories,” the ITIA stated.

“In relation to the participant’s degree of fault, because the contaminated product was a regulated non-prescription remedy within the participant’s nation of origin and buy and contemplating all of the circumstances of its use (and different contaminated product instances beneath the World Anti-Doping Code), the participant’s degree of fault was thought-about to be on the lowest finish of the vary for ‘No Vital Fault or Negligence.'”

In the meantime, Swiatek was fairly open in her message, saying it was probably the most tough factor she ever confronted and admitted that she “cried” so much throughout your complete interval. Additionally, she confessed that she was feeling some main stress and anxiousness as a result of she did not know what was going to occur along with her profession.

Finally, all of it labored out high-quality for the world No. 2, who will be capable of begin the 2025 season in time.

In late December, the United Cup will mark the beginning of the brand new season and the 23-year-old is slated to symbolize Poland there. After the United Cup, the Pole ought to compete on the Australian Open. 

Swiatek might have received her case however a number of the reactions to her doping information from her colleagues weren’t probably the most nice to listen to so it will likely be fascinating to see if any of this mentally impacts the previous world No. 1.