{"id":23170,"date":"2026-06-23T00:55:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T00:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/23170\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T00:55:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T00:55:51","slug":"former-wimbledon-champion-vondrousova-suspended-4-years-for-refusing-doping-test-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/23170\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Wimbledon champion Vondrousova suspended 4 years for refusing doping test"},"content":{"rendered":"

LONDON — LONDON (AP) \u2014 Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova<\/a> was suspended for four years on Monday for refusing an anti-doping test \u2014 even though the Czech player cited \u201cmental stress\u201d and fear when the testing agent \u201crang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

The International Tennis Integrity Agency made the announcement, saying that Vondrousova refused a test in December, and that the decision was reached by an independent tribunal.<\/p>\n

Vondrousova became Wimbledon\u2019s first unseeded female champion when she beat Ons Jabeur in the 2023 title match. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 that year.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old Vondrousova detailed her reaction to the missed test in an Instagram post<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health,\u201d Vondrousova said. \u201cThe recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ITIA said Vondrousova \u201cdid not submit a sample when notified by a Doping Control Officer (DCO) during an out-of-competition test attempt at her home at around 8 p.m. on 3 December 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vondrousova was represented by Los Angeles-based lawyer Howard Jacobs, a specialist in doping rules cases. Jacobs helped two-time Grand Slam singles champion Halep win an appeal case in 2024 at CAS against a four-year ban for doping.<\/p>\n

Vondrousova becomes the latest high-profile tennis player involved in a doping case after Halep, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek.<\/p>\n

Vondrousova\u2019s ban expires June 21, 2030. She can appeal the decision to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.<\/p>\n

Wimbledon starts next week.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP tennis: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/tennis<\/a><\/p>\n