Former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová has been handed a four-year ban after refusing to undergo an anti-doping test.
The 26-year-old was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after a doping control officer was denied entry to her home in December 2025 to carry out a scheduled test.
Vondroušová said in April that she feared for her safety when the officer arrived, claiming proper protocol was not followed. However, an independent tribunal ruled that she provided “no compelling justification” for refusing the test.
Her suspension runs until 21 June 2030, although she retains the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In a statement, the 2023 Wimbledon champion—the first unseeded woman to win the title—insisted she has never used banned substances.
“I have never doped, I have never had a positive test. Throughout my entire career I have undergone countless anti-doping controls and have always stepped on to the court with a clear conscience,” she said.
A 2019 French Open finalist and former world number six, Vondroušová has not competed since January and has since dropped to 122nd in the rankings. She added: “I cannot say what comes next. For the first time in my life I do not have a plan.”
During the hearing, she said stress, mental health struggles, and safety concerns influenced her decision at the time.
ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse acknowledged that the testing process can be “uncomfortable” and burdensome for players but stressed that it is essential to maintain fair competition.
Vondroušová said she felt threatened when the officer arrived late at night without clearly identifying themselves or following proper procedure, adding: “In that moment it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything.”
The ITIA confirmed that she refused the test and signed a refusal form after briefly stepping outside to walk her dog.
Moorhouse noted that outright refusals are “extremely rare” in tennis anti-doping cases.
In a separate case in 2024, Russian player Vladislav Ivanov also received a four-year ban for refusing a doping test during competition.
