Nick Kyrgios agreed with Yevgeny Kafelnikov after the previous two-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that gamers these days are setting “a foul instance to youthful generations” amid the Iga Swiatek information.
After it was introduced that the WTA world No. 2 examined constructive for trimetazidine (TMZ) and accepted a one-month ban, the Russian tennis legend despatched out a sequence of posts on X. Whereas he did not point out the Pole by the identify in any of his posts, it was fairly clear that he was referring to that exact case.
In his first response, Kafelnikov stated he typically regretted not utilizing banned substances throughout his profession. Then, he additionally bluntly added that it was “disgrace” to see what was occurring in tennis. By this comment, he most likely additionally Jannik Sinner’s case in thoughts
“Generally I ponder…..,’why the hell up I used to be not utilizing steroids via all of my service, so I may play as a substitute of 170 matches a 12 months to possibly 300?’ That is actually disgrace what’s occurring to tennis now,” the previous world No. 1 wrote on X.
In one other submit, the 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist advised that these circumstances may make it look to youthful gamers that they “may take doping however get away with it.”
“And the unhappy half to all of that is that younger and upcoming gamers(12-16 years previous) have a look at they idols and assume possibly it’s regular to make use of steroids sooner or later and get away with this! Present gamers setting unhealthy examples for younger generations,” the previous two-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged.
After studying it, Kyrgios reacted with a easy “yup.”
Yup
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) November 30, 2024
Kyrgios agrees with Kafelnikov, who defends his submit
Of their assertion, the ITIA defined that Swiatek decided that the melatonin treatment she used was contaminated with a banned substance. And after figuring out that the Pole was to not blame for what occurred, she obtained a minimal sanction.
With that in thoughts, one fan defended the Polish tennis star by telling Kafelnikov: “Younger gamers will study that even with out doping they could fail a check as a consequence of inadvertent contamination however will be capable to show in court docket that it was simply an accident. Nonetheless, there’ll all the time be haters, followers of rivals and previous tennis gamers.”
However, the Russian – who performed on the Tour for 11 years and was top-of-the-line gamers throughout his time – did not agree that it’s attainable to fail a doping check as a consequence of “inadvertent contamination.”
“This isn’t true!! No person will fail a check except you purposely use ban substance,” he responded.
This isn’t true!! No person will fail a check except you purposely use ban substance
— Kafelnikov Yevgeny (@KYevgeni) November 30, 2024
On Thursday, Kafelnikov made one other submit in regards to the subject, saying that each failed doping check ought to warrant a lifetime ban.
“It ought to be LIFE ban for anyone who will get caught utilizing ban substances! NO excuses and ZERO tolerance regardless of who your are!!!!” the 50-year-old wrote.
The ITIA absolutely accepted Swiatek’s rationalization
In keeping with the ITIA, the four-time French Open champion absolutely cooperated with the authorities proper from Day 1 and was eager on discovering out what occurred. After it was revealed that the drugs she was utilizing to handle stress and sleep points was contaminated, it turned clear that she did not imply to dope.
Additionally, the company stated the traces of TMZ in Swiatek’s system had been “on the lowest vary.”
“The ITIA accepted that the constructive check was brought on by the contamination of a regulated non-prescription treatment (melatonin), manufactured and offered in Poland that the participant had been taking for jet lag and sleep points, and that the violation was due to this fact 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 treatment within the participant’s nation of origin and buy and contemplating all of the circumstances of its use (and different contaminated product circumstances underneath the World Anti-Doping Code), the participant’s degree of fault was thought of to be on the lowest finish of the vary for ‘No Vital Fault or Negligence.'”
In the meantime, the Polish tennis star stated it was “the hardest battle of her life” and one thing that prompted her to “cry loads” and have “many sleepless nights.” Additionally, the 23-year-old admitted the worry of uncertainty was mentally destroying her.
Happily for Swiatek, all of it ended properly and she is going to be capable to play the Australian Open.
