The 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova took to social media to reveal she is being investigated for refusing a doping test.
The 26-year-old Czech could face up to a four-year ban from tennis for the offence after posting on Instagram that she felt too afraid to open her door to a stranger.
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Vondrousova shared that she feared being physically attacked like countrywoman and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was when she was injured in a knife assault during a burglary at her home in 2016.
“Experts confirmed I suffered an acute stress reaction and generalised anxiety disorder,” Vondrousova said.
“In that moment, fear clouded my judgment and I just couldn’t process the situation rationally. After what happened to Petra, we don’t take strangers at our door lightly.”
Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded player to win at the All-England club, stated the drug tester “rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol” and stressed that she is working to clear her name.
In response, a spokesperson for the International Tennis Integrity Agency said: “We are aware of the player’s comments. We can confirm that an investigation is underway and the player has been charged with refusing a test. At this stage, we are not able to comment any further on the specifics.”
Vondrousova began her Instagram post by telling her followers that she has been suffering from mental health issues.
“I need to tell you something. I can’t really keep saying I’m okay when I’m not,” she said.
“The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.
“For a long time, I’ve been dealing with injury, constant pressure, and ongoing sleep issues that left me feeling exhausted and fragile.
“On top of that, years of hateful messages and threats have affected how safe I feel in my own space.”
It is not the first time Vondrousova has taken to Instagram with complaints about drug testing.
She posted a story last year where she said a tester arrived at her door at 8.15pm even though on her “whereabouts” form said listed that as an hour of unavailability.
She alleged that the tester told her: “This is the life of the professional athlete.”
Vondrousova also said: “Is it normal for doping officers to sit in our living rooms at night waiting for us to pee?”
Vondrousova chose not to take a provisional suspension, and the offence does need lead to an immediate ban, meaning she is free to take the court until the matter is resolved.
But the left-hander has been sidelined since the Adelaide International in January with a shoulder injury.