Marketa Vondrousova has officially appealed her four-year tennis anti-doping ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging a sanction handed down after she refused an out-of-competition sample collection at her home in late 2025.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed an appeal filed by the former world No. 6 against the ban issued in late June by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), according to a spokesperson for the global sports court. The 2023 Wimbledon champion faces a suspension that runs until June 21, 2030, effectively halting her professional career on the WTA Tour.
Details of the December 2025 Anti-Doping Incident
The case stems from an unannounced visit by a doping control officer to Vondrousova’s home on Dec. 3, 2025, at approximately 8 p.m. According to the ITIA, the Czech player refused to submit to the requested sample collection. Under global tennis anti-doping rules, a refusal to provide a sample carries the same penalty as a positive test result.
Vondrousova previously defended her actions by citing stress, mental health concerns, and fears for her personal safety. In April disclosures, the left-handed player asserted that the testing official arrived late at night without properly identifying herself or adhering to established protocols. Despite these explanations, the ITIA proceeded with the four-year ban.
What Comes Next in the CAS Appeal Process
An official hearing date has not yet been scheduled by the Lausanne-based court. Proceedings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport typically take place months after a formal appeal is lodged. Hearings are traditionally held behind closed doors unless the athlete requests a public session—a step described as exceedingly rare.
Following the closed-door hearing, a panel of arbitrators will deliberate and issue a final sentence several months later. Vondrousova has remained away from the professional circuit since January. Her last major tournament appearance came at the US Open in August 2025, where she reached the quarterfinals but was forced to withdraw before playing due to an injury.
Career Milestones of the 2023 Wimbledon Champion
Before the suspension and subsequent legal battle, Vondrousova established herself as a major contender. Ranked No. 42 at the start of the 2023 fortnight at the All England Club, she captured the Wimbledon singles title with a victory over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur.
Her resume also includes a run to the final at Roland Garros in 2019, where she fell to Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, alongside a silver medal in women’s singles at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The appeal process before the Court of Arbitration for Sport represents her avenue to overturn the suspension and salvage her professional tennis career before the end of the decade.
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