Former Wimbledon champion Vondrousova handed four-year ban for refusing doping test
Marketa Vondrousova maintains her innocence following the decision, while her legal team considers an appeal and her manager criticises the severity of the penalty.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued a four-year ban to former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, prohibiting the 26-year-old Czech player from all tennis-related activities. The sanction follows an incident in December 2025 where Vondrousova refused to submit to a doping test, a decision an independent tribunal ruled was not supported by compelling justification.
The ban restricts Vondrousova from playing, coaching at, or attending any events organised or sanctioned by the ITF, WTA, ATP, Grand Slams, or any national association. The ruling stems from her failure to open her door to an anti-doping officer, an act the agency attributes to non-compliance with anti-doping protocols.
Vondrousova has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating on Instagram that she “never doped” and had “never had a positive test” throughout her career. She argued that she felt scared when the officer rang her bell without properly identifying themselves or following established protocol. Her legal team, led by Jan Exner, confirmed they would consider an appeal but declined to provide further details on the strategy.
In her defence, Vondrousova highlighted that she tested negative for prohibited substances just three days after the incident, consistent with her record of previous tests. She described the past few months as an exhausting and painful period marked by uncertainty and fear, noting that she has undergone countless anti-doping controls with a clear conscience.
Vladislav Savrda, manager of Vondrousova’s Prague club, described the verdict as “nonsensical and scandalous.” He alleged a double standard within the ITIA, pointing out that players such as Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek received significantly shorter bans after testing positive. Savrda suggested the agency sought to avoid scandal in those high-profile cases but applied the maximum penalty to Vondrousova.
Vondrousova, who won the Wimbledon title in 2023 and reached a career-high world No. 6 ranking that same year, currently sits at world No. 122. Her recent competitive record has been limited by injury; she withdrew from the Adelaide International in January 2025 due to a shoulder injury and has played only two matches on the WTA Tour this year.
