Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has revealed that overwhelming mental and physical stress led her to refuse a doping control officer's visit to her home in December 2025, resulting in an anti-doping charge.
In a candid social media post, the Czech tennis star explained she was at a "breaking point" when the officer arrived late at night without proper identification or protocol. "When someone rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol - I reacted as a person who felt scared," Vondrousova wrote. "In that moment it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything."
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has charged the 26-year-old with refusing a doping test, an offense that could carry a suspension of up to four years if she's found guilty. However, Vondrousova can continue competing while the investigation proceeds, as she has opted against taking a provisional suspension.
Vondrousova disclosed that medical experts have diagnosed her with "acute stress reaction and generalised anxiety disorder" following months of injury struggles, constant pressure, and sleep issues. The 2023 Wimbledon champion also cited years of receiving hateful messages and threats as contributing to her sense of insecurity.
"For a long time, I've been dealing with injury, constant pressure, and ongoing sleep issues that left me feeling exhausted and fragile. It slowly wore me down more than I probably realised at the time."
The tennis star referenced fellow Czech player Petra Kvitova's 2016 home invasion and knife attack as influencing her reaction. "After what happened to Petra, we don't take strangers at our door lightly," Vondrousova explained.
Vondrousova, currently ranked 46th in the world, has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Adelaide International in January with shoulder pain, which also forced her to miss the Australian Open. She expressed hope for recovery, stating, "I'm trying to slowly find my way back - both on and off the court."
The ITIA acknowledged Vondrousova's comments but declined to discuss specifics, confirming only that an investigation is underway and the player has been formally charged with refusing a test.