Former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová could face a suspension of up to four years after being charged with refusing a doping test by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The incident occurred in early December 2025, according to verified reports, when a doping control officer visited her home late at night.
Vondroušová, who won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 2023, has not played a WTA Tour match since January 2026 due to injury. The 26-year-old Czech player explained on Instagram that she experienced an “acute stress reaction” when the officer arrived without proper identification or protocol, stating she felt unsafe in the moment.
“The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress,” Vondroušová wrote in her statement. She added that experts confirmed she suffered from an Acute Stress Reaction (F43.0) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (F41.1), which clouded her judgment during the encounter.
The ITIA spokesperson confirmed Friday afternoon via text message that Vondroušová, currently ranked No. 46 in the world, is “under investigation” for the incident. Both parties are currently submitting evidence ahead of a hearing, with her lawyer, Jan Exner, stating they are “certain that once the full context is understood, her name will be cleared.”
Under the Tennis Anti-Doping Protocol (TADP), the maximum punishment for refusing a test is a four-year suspension. Although, Vondroušová remains free to play while under investigation, as the offense does not trigger an immediate ban. She has opted not to seize a provisional suspension.
The player withdrew from the Adelaide International in January 2026 due to shoulder pain and has not competed since. Her Instagram post detailed years of struggling with injuries, constant pressure, sleep problems, and hateful messages that made her feel unsafe in her own home.
“Darüber hinaus haben jahrelange hasserfüllte Nachrichten und Drohungen dazu geführt, dass ich mich in meinem eigenen Zuhause nicht mehr sicher fühle,” she stated, explaining the cumulative toll that led to the December incident.
Vondroušová emphasized that her reaction was about feeling safe, not about avoiding the test: “In that moment, it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything.” The ITIA said it is aware of her comments and confirmed an investigation is underway but declined to provide further specifics.
As a former Grand Slam champion who reached the world’s top 10 in her career, Vondroušová’s case has drawn significant attention in the tennis world. The outcome of the hearing could significantly impact her career trajectory, especially as she aims to return from injury.
The next confirmed checkpoint in this matter is the upcoming hearing where both sides will present their evidence, though no specific date has been made public yet.
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