2023 Wimbledon champion suspended 4 years for refusing doping test

Just three years removed from her Wimbledon title, Czech tennis star Marketa Vondrousova has been suspended for four years for violating the Tennis Anti-Doping Program.

Back in December, Vondrousova posted on Instagram that an anti-doping agent showed up at her home to administer a test, but that it was outside her testing window for the day. Pro tennis players are required to set aside one hour per day where they are available to be tested, although agents can show up outside of those times to administer tests.

Vondrousova, who was home but refused to take the test at that time, claimed that mental health and anxiety played into her decision to refuse the test. However, an independent tribunal concluded that was not a “compelling justification” for turning down the test.

“Unpredictable testing is an essential tool to protect clean sport,” International Tennis Integrity Agency CEO Karen Moorhouse said in a statement. “The independent tribunal ultimately supported that principle. This case is an important reminder that players can be tested at any time, in any place, and that refusal comes with significant risk.”

According to the rules, a refusal to be tested counts the same as a positive test. Vondrousova will be suspended until June 21, 2030. She is still able to appeal the ruling.

Vondrousova, who has a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world, burst onto the tennis scene back in 2021 when she made an improbable run to the Roland Garros final before losing to her compatriot Barbora Krejcikova in the championship match.

In 2023, she finally got over the hump to win her first grand slam at Wimbledon with an incredible run to the title in London. She defeated Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina and Ons Jabeur on her road to her first major.

Since then, Vondrousova has struggled with injuries that have kept her sidelined throughout her career. Last fall, she pulled off a massive upset of Elena Rybakina in the U.S. Open Round of 16 before injuring herself in practice, forcing her to withdraw from her quarterfinal against Aryna Sabalenka.

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