Former Wimbledon singles champion Marketa Vondrousova was suspended for refusing to take an anti-doping test in December 2025 while Vondrousova cited mental health concerns.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on June 22 that an independent tribunal had suspended Vondrousova. 26, until 2030. She did not provide a sample when a Doping Control Officer (DCO) asked for it during a home test attempt, the agency said. According to ITIA policy, any player who refuses to take a test is treated as having returned a positive result. (RELATED: Serena And Venus Williams Set For Wimbledon Reunion In Ladies’ Doubles Draw)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic lifts the Women’s Singles Trophy as she celebrates victory following the Women’s Singles Final (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Vondrousova said she has been suffering from acute stress reaction, which caused her to panic when the DCO attempted to administer the test, in an Instagram post April 17. “[W]hen someone rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol- [I] reacted as a person who felt scarred. [I]n that moment, it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything.”
ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said, “We understand that the testing process is uncomfortable, and acknowledge that it is an additional burden for players whose jobs already come with a high level of pressure and scrutiny, but it is essential to protect fair competition.”
Vondrousova said mental health issues and stress had influenced her decisions, along with safety concerns, according to the ITIA. The tribunal weighed this alongside the testimony of the Doping Control Officer who tried to carry out the test, and concluded that the evidence offered “no compelling justification” for her refusing to take it.
Vondrousova’s ban is set to last until June 21, 2030. She can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The tennis star secured victory at Wimbledon in 2023.
Vondrousova is the latest tennis star connected to a doping scandal, following Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Simona Halep.