Vondrousova says she never doped after four-year ban

PRAGUE: Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova said she had never used banned substances after the International Tennis Integrity Agency imposed a four-year suspension on her on Monday.

The ITIA held the 26-year-old Czech player responsible for failing to open the door to an anti-doping officer in December 2025. In April, Vondrousova said she had been frightened when the official rang her bell without, in her account, properly identifying themselves or following the required procedure. An independent tribunal handling the case found that the evidence presented offered no compelling justification for her refusal to take the test.

In an Instagram post late on Monday, Vondrousova rejected any suggestion of doping and said she had consistently passed anti-doping checks during her career.

“I have never doped. I have never had a positive test”, she said. She added that she had gone through many anti-doping controls and had always competed with a clear conscience. Vondrousova also said she was tested again three days after the incident and that the result was negative, as with her previous tests.

Her lawyer, Jan Exner, told AFP on Monday that they would consider an appeal, but did not provide further details. During the ban, Vondrousova is barred from playing in, coaching at, or attending events organised or sanctioned by the ITF, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams or any national association.

Vondrousova also described the toll the case had taken on her over recent months, saying the uncertainty and fear had been difficult to endure.

“I would not wish what I have been through over the past few months on anyone. Waking up every day with uncertainty, fear, and the feeling that you are losing control over your own life is something that is difficult to put into words”, she said, adding that the period had been deeply exhausting and painful.

Czech news agency CTK quoted Vladislav Savrda, manager of Vondrousova’s Prague club, as calling the ruling nonsensical and scandalous. He said the ITIA had imposed the maximum penalty on Vondrousova while Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek received significantly shorter suspensions after testing positive.

Savrda said “but now they were gifted this case and needed to point a finger, and unfortunately Marketa is paying for this”, he added.

Vondrousova won Wimbledon in 2023 and has claimed three other WTA Tour singles titles. She was runner-up at the French Open in 2019, took silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and rose to a career-high ranking of world number six in 2023. She has played only two WTA Tour matches this year after withdrawing from the Adelaide International in January with a shoulder injury.