Markéta Vondroušová charged with refusing doping test after ‘acute stress reaction’

A date has not been set for the hearing. The case revolves around tennis’ whereabouts rules, which state that for every day of the year, a player must give a location and time slot when they can be tested. Refusing one, or failing to update one’s whereabouts three times within 12 months lead to a player being sanctioned.

Vondroušová said in December that the tester arrived outside of the testing window she had given, and also failed to identify themselves. In addition to their whereabouts submissions, players can also be randomly tested at any time according to the TADP.

The ITIA spokesperson said that this is because the organization wants the testing program to be unpredictable.

During an interview last year, the ITIA’s chief executive Karen Moorhouse said that generally, one of the minimum of three tests they do on each player per year will be outside the designated window.

The World Anti-Doping (WADA) Code states that the ITIA has to test outside of the hour a certain number of times, the ITIA spokesperson said. WADA spokesperson James Fitzgerald said via email last year: “The point of out-of-competition testing is that it is a surprise. Sample collection can take place outside the times given (within certain parameters that respect reasonable access and privacy concerns).”

Numerous players told The Athletic last year that while they understood why drugs testing had to be so strict, the protocols led to feelings of paranoia, anxiety and stress.

Former world No. 5 Andrey Rublev said they “can drive you crazy”. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka called them “really scary”; Ons Jabeur, who Vondroušová beat in the 2023 Wimbledon final, said she’d been “traumatised” by them.

Vondroušová spoke in her post on Friday about the mental and physical challenges she has been facing generally, writing that: “It is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health. The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.”

Vondroušová has been unfortunate with injuries in recent years. After a stunning win over current world No. 2 Elena Rybakina at last year’s U.S. Open, she aggravated a knee injury hours before her quarterfinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Before that, she feared her career was over following shoulder surgery in 2024, which left her unable to swing a racket. She returned to tennis, but kept suffering setbacks.

Exner said in his statement Friday that: “Markéta is showing immense courage by speaking out about the overwhelming pressure that players often face in professional tennis.”

Vondroušová played her first match in three months last weekend, partnering Tereza Valentová in a doubles rubber during Czechia’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Switzerland. She hinted at taking a break from the sport in her post, but Exner said she was planning on playing the Madrid Open, which starts April 21.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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