Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been issued with a four-year ban from professional tennis after refusing to undergo an anti-doping test. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the sanction, which stems from an incident in December 2025 when the Czech player denied a doping control officer entry to her residence.
Vondrousova, aged 26, who made history as the first unseeded player to clinch the Wimbledon women's singles title in 2023, was charged by the ITIA after the refusal. She subsequently stated in April that she had feared for her safety during the visit, claiming the officer failed to adhere to established protocols. However, an independent tribunal concluded that Vondrousova provided "no compelling justification" for her decision to refuse the test.
The suspension is set to run until 21 June 2030, effectively sidelining one of the sport's recent Grand Slam winners for a significant period. Vondrousova retains the right to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In a statement, she asserted, "I have never doped, I have never had a positive test. Throughout my entire career I have undergone countless anti-doping controls and have always stepped on to the court with a clear conscience."
During the hearing, Vondrousova also highlighted that stress and poor mental health had influenced her decision-making at the time, in addition to her concerns for personal safety. Karen Moorhouse, chief executive officer of the ITIA, acknowledged that the testing process can be "uncomfortable" for athletes but stressed its vital role in "protecting fair competition." Vondrousova, a French Open finalist in 2019 and former world number six, has not competed professionally since January and has seen her ranking plummet to 122nd.
The ITIA clarified that Vondrousova had informed the doping control officer she would not take the test and signed a refusal form shortly after, when she ventured outside to walk her dog. Moorhouse described instances of players refusing tests as "extremely rare." The severity of the four-year ban reflects the ITIA's stance that refusing a test is treated with the same gravity as a positive doping result, aiming to prevent players from gaining an advantage by evading testing.
Vondrousova's situation draws parallels with the 2016 knife attack on fellow Czech player Petra Kvitova, which Vondrousova cited as a reason for her reluctance to open her door to the official, claiming the female officer did not provide adequate identification. However, ITIA senior director Nicole Sapstead confirmed that all officers carry identification and a letter of authority, with an additional option for players to request a unique ID code for verification.
Source: International Tennis Integrity Agency