AceShowbiz - Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ), the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on November 28.

Swiatek, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, failed an out-of-competition drug test in August. She formally admitted the anti-doping rule violation on Wednesday and accepted her penalty.

The ITIA accepted her explanation that the result was unintentional and caused by the contamination of a nonprescription medication, melatonin, that Swiatek was taking for jet lag and sleeping issues. It was determined that her level of fault was "at the lowest end of the range for no significant fault or negligence," the ITIA said.

Swiatek has eight days remaining on the punishment after she was provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4 and missed three tournaments. The remaining suspension will be completed while there is no competition, and Swiatek will be cleared to return on Monday.

In an Instagram Reel, Swiatek said she was subjected to "strict ITIA proceedings" over the past two-and-a-half months and that the proceedings "confirmed my innocence." She added that she had "never heard about" the substance she tested positive for prior to the failed result.

Swiatek said she was "shocked" after the positive result returned and that "both me and my team had to deal with tremendous stress and anxiety." She expressed relief that everything had been "carefully explained" and that she could "go back to what I love most" with a clean slate.

The ITIA said Swiatek also forfeited her prize money of $158,944 from the Cincinnati Open, the first tournament she played after the failed test. She lost in the semifinals in Cincinnati.

Swiatek's case is the second recent high-profile doping case in tennis. Jannik Sinner failed two tests for a steroid in March and was cleared in August, before winning the US Open.

ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said, "These are not cases of intentional doping. We're dealing with inadvertent breaches of the rules. So I don't think this is a cause for concern for tennis fans."

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said in a statement that it "fully supports Iga during this difficult time" and that "this unfortunate incident highlights the challenges athletes face in navigating the use of medications and supplements."

Swiatek's suspension has raised questions about the sport's reputation and the use of banned substances in tennis.