Miami: Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been handed a four-year suspension after refusing to provide a sample during an out-of-competition anti-doping test, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Monday.
The 26-year-old Czech player, who won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 2023, failed to provide a sample when approached by a doping control officer at her residence in December 2025.
Vondrousova said she refused the test due to extreme stress, serious mental health concerns, and fears over her personal safety and the safety of her family.
However, an independent tribunal examined her claims along with the testimony of the Doping Control Officer and ruled that there was “no compelling justification” for her refusal.
As a result, her provisional suspension has been extended until June 21, 2030. The ban will significantly affect the career of the Czech player, who is currently ranked 122nd in the world.
ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said the organisation understood that the testing process could be uncomfortable and add pressure on players, but stressed that it was necessary to protect the sport from cheating.
“We understand that the testing process is uncomfortable and can be an additional burden on players, already facing pressures and scrutiny, but it is essential to protect our sport from the threat of cheating,” Moorhouse said.
She added that the ITIA takes the safety and welfare of both players and testing staff seriously. She said testing officers are highly professional, trained, and carry identification at all times.
Moorhouse also said that in cases where testers do not know the player they are testing, they verify whether the gender of their witnesses matches that of the player. Players also have the right to check a tester’s credentials, verify their identity, and request additional identification.
She further said that testing procedures conducted at players’ homes respect athletes’ privacy and property rights while complying with applicable laws.
“We are aware that such procedures may present challenges for players and will continue to offer support and work with players to ensure the best possible testing experience, whenever possible,” she added.
Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded player in history to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 2023 after defeating Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in straight sets, will not be allowed to play, coach, or attend events organised or sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), WTA, ATP, Grand Slam tournaments, or national tennis associations during her suspension.
In her career, Vondrousova also reached the French Open final in 2019, where she lost to Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, and won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
She achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 6 in 2023 and has won three WTA Tour singles titles.
With IANS inputs