2 hours ago
The 2023 Wimbledon singles champion Marketa Vondrousova has been suspended from tennis for 4 years for refusing an anti-doping test.
An independent tribunal concluded that location was “no compelling justification” for nan 26-year-old Czech to person not submitted a sample erstwhile notified by a doping power officer, retired of title and astatine her home, connected nan nighttime of 3 December, 2025.
Vondrousova is not allowed to play in, coach at, aliases be immoderate events organised aliases sanctioned by nan ITF, WTA, ATP, nan Grand Slams, aliases immoderate nationalist relation until 21 June 2030.
International Tennis Integrity Agency (ATIA) main Karen Moorhouse said: “We understand that nan testing process is uncomfortable, and admit that it is an further load for players whose jobs already travel pinch a precocious level of unit and scrutiny, but it is basal to protect adjacent competition.
“Unpredictable testing is an basal instrumentality to protect cleanable sport. The independent tribunal yet supported that principle. This lawsuit is an important reminder that players tin beryllium tested astatine immoderate time, successful immoderate place, and that refusal comes pinch important risk.”
According to an ATIA statement, Vondrousova, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 6 successful September 2023, claimed during nan proceeding that “stress and mediocre intelligence wellness had affected her determination making, successful summation to concerns for her safety”.
The connection continued: “The tribunal considered this successful their decision, arsenic good arsenic grounds from nan doping power serviceman who attempted to behaviour nan test, and concluded that nan grounds offered ‘no compelling justification’ for nan trial refusal.”
Vondrousova, arsenic good arsenic ATIA and nan nationalist anti-doping organisation, person nan correct to entreaty to nan tribunal of arbitration for sport.
