Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, has described her four-year ban from tennis as 'career-ending' and says she feels 'completely broken' by the decision. The 26-year-old Czech player was handed the suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for refusing to take a drugs test in December 2025. The ban, which runs until 2030, means she will miss this year's Wimbledon tournament, starting on June 29, and likely ends her professional career.
Vondrousova's reaction to the ban
Speaking to The Times, Vondrousova expressed her devastation. 'For me, it's career-ending,' she said. 'I'm 27 [on Sunday]. It's not like you are 19 or whatever. Overall, four years, it's the craziest thing. Even with the facts and the things we know, it was even more hard because I spent the whole day at the tribunal, I saw everything, I heard everything. We have so many points we can show and know the truth. Four years, nobody could imagine it.'
Details of the incident
The incident occurred in December 2025 when an ITIA agent visited Vondrousova's home at 8.15 pm. According to the ITIA, she signed a form acknowledging her refusal to provide a sample. However, Vondrousova claims the agent did not show official identification, and she was fearful due to diagnosed anxiety issues. 'At no point did the agent show an official ID,' she said. 'I have been officially diagnosed with anxiety by two specialists.'
Support from fellow players
Several players have voiced support for Vondrousova. Ajla Tomljanovic called the ITIA a 'disgrace.' Vondrousova herself emphasised that she is not against anti-doping rules. 'We don't want anybody who cheats or takes something. We need this system,' she said. 'But I'm here with a four-year ban and I wasn't positive. I didn't have anything in my blood ever, so it's tough. And in this you just feel you are so small. It's just like this big monstrous organisation and you are just saying the truth.'
Financial and reputational cost
Vondrousova has already spent over £200,000 on legal fees trying to clear her name. She is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport once the ITIA publishes its full findings. 'For them, it's just me. I'm this small. But for me, it's my whole career. I was playing since I was a small kid. It's my name, it's my reputation. Now it's like, Marketa is the one with the four-year ban. She's the doper. And it's like they just don't care what you have to say.'
ITIA's statement
The ITIA issued a statement saying: 'The panel decided the sanction based on the rules which set out that four years is the starting point for refusing a test. No one at the ITIA takes any joy from this case or the decision. We urge players to talk to us if they have questions or concerns about any aspect of the anti-doping rules.'
