Wimbledon champion issued lengthy ban just days before tournament

A former Wimbledon champion has received a four-year ban just days before the 2026 edition of the grass-court major gets underway.

Marketa Vondrousova, who won the 2023 Wimbledon women’s singles event, was initially charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in December 2025, having prevented a doping official from entering her home.

The 26-year-old Czech explained how she was at "breaking point after months of physical and mental stress" when she denied the official access to her home as they intended to conduct a test.

Players must provide details of their whereabouts for an hour a day so anti-doping authorities can test them outside of competition.

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Vondrousova described how she feared for her safety when the official showed up, with the tennis star claiming authorities failed to follow protocol.

“When someone rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol — I reacted as a person who felt scared. In that moment, it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything,” she posted on Instagram in April.

“Experts confirmed I suffered an Acute Stress Reaction (F43.O) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (F41.1). In that moment, fear clouded my judgment and i just couldn’t process the situation rationally. After what happened to Petra (Kvitová, the fellow Czech Wimbledon champion who was stabbed in her own home 10 years ago), we don’t take strangers at our door lightly.”

However, Vondrousova, who is currently ranked 122nd in the world, "provided no compelling justification" for refusing a test, according to a tribunal.

She will now be suspended until June 21, 2030, although an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is still possible.

ITIA issue statement on Vondrousova ban

International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) CEO Karen Moorhouse said: "We understand that the testing process is uncomfortable and acknowledge that it is an additional burden for players whose jobs already come with a high level of pressure and scrutiny, but it is essential to protect fair competition.

"The safety and welfare of players and our testers are really important to us. Our testers are well-trained, professional, and the gender of our testing witness always matches that of the player. They carry ID at all times, and players are able to verify their identity in other ways if they are ever unsure."

Vondrousova will not be allowed to be involved with, or attend, any events sanctioned by the ITF, WTA, ATP, or any other professional tennis body for the duration of her ban.

Moorhouse added: "Unpredictable testing is an essential tool in protecting clean sport.

"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 Vondrousova's lawyer, Dr Jan Exner, her legal team "will review the written reasons and decide on our next course of action. First, we must consult with Markéta; I do not want to speculate on further steps at this moment".

Wimbledon begins on June 29 and will run until July 12.