Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has revealed she missed a mandatory anti-doping test due to severe anxiety stemming from past trauma and ongoing mental health struggles, according to her emotional statement shared on social media.
The 26-year-old Czech tennis player explained in an Instagram post that she failed to comply with a doping control officer’s late-night visit to her home because she felt unsafe and was experiencing heightened anxiety after months of physical and emotional strain.
Vondrousova, who won the Wimbledon singles title in 2023, stated that the doping control officer arrived at her residence late in the evening without proper identification, which triggered her anxiety response given her history of feeling unsafe in her own home.
She referenced the 2016 attack on her fellow Czech player Petra Kvitova, who was assaulted in her apartment by an intruder posing as a craftsman, as a contributing factor to her ongoing sense of vulnerability.
“After what happened to Petra, we don’t take strangers at our door lightly,” Vondrousova wrote in her statement, explaining that her reaction was driven by fear rather than an intent to avoid the test.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) anti-doping regulations consider a missed test as a potential violation, which could lead to sanctions ranging from a warning to a suspension depending on circumstances and intent.
Vondrousova emphasized her commitment to transparency about her mental health, stating she has struggled with injuries, constant pressure, sleep problems and years of hateful messages and threats that have eroded her sense of security.
“I have long struggled with injuries, constant pressure, and sleep problems. This has worn me down. Years of hateful messages and threats have led to me not feeling safe in my own home,” she wrote.
Her statement highlighted how anxiety impaired her judgment in the moment, leading her to refuse entry to the doping control officer despite the potential consequences.
Vondrousova’s situation adds to the growing conversation about mental health challenges faced by elite athletes, particularly in tennis where players face intense scrutiny, relentless travel, and the psychological toll of competing at the highest level.
The ITF has not yet announced any formal sanction against Vondrousova, and the case remains under review as she continues to address her mental health concerns.
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