Marketa Vondrousova doping charge timeframe as ex-Wimbledon champ’s lawyer speaks out | Tennis | Sport

Marketa Vondrousova’s lawyer has spoken out after the 2023 Wimbledon champion was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) with refusing a test. Vondrousova opened up on what she called a “doping control incident” in an emotional statement shared on Instagram on Friday. The former world No. 6 said she “reacted as a person who felt scared” when a doping control officer came to her home in the evening “without properly identifying themselves or following protocol”. Vondrousova also said she had suffered Acute Stress Reaction and Generalised Anxiety Disorder.

The Czech star is now taking a break from tennis. She had not played a singles match since January due to injury, but played a doubles match during Czechia’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Switzerland over the weekend. The ITIA has since confirmed that she has been charged with refusing a test. This charge does not carry an automatic provisional suspension, so Vondrousova is not suspended. An ITIA spokesperson 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’s lawyer, Dr Jan Exner, has now told Express Sport that they are certain her name will be cleared, and they hope to know the result of the investigation by summer.

“Marketa is showing immense courage by speaking out about the overwhelming pressure that players often face in professional tennis. For years, she has quietly endured toxic harassment, death threats, and the physical toll of chronic sleep deprivation. This situation was a breaking point,” he said.

“The combination of this long-term burden and a doping control encounter that failed to follow standard safety and identification protocols triggered a medically documented Acute Stress Reaction. In that moment, the process simply couldn’t be completed.

“Marketa takes her professional responsibilities very seriously, but she is a human being, not a machine. We are certain that once the full context is understood, her name will be cleared. We should know the result before this summer.”

Vondrousova had initially opened up about this test incident in an Instagram story shared in December. She posted a photo of a doping control officer at her door and wrote: “Every day, we are required to be home for one specific hour for doping control. I respect that rule – every single day.

“Tonight, however, a tester arrived at 8.15pm and told me that my declared time doesn’t matter and that I must be tested right now. “When I pointed out that it’s outside my testing window and a serious intrusion into my privacy, I was told: ‘This is the life of a professional athlete’.

“Is it normal for doping officers to sit in our living rooms at night waiting for us to pee? This is not about avoiding testing – it’s about respect. Respect for the rules that we follow, and for the personal life that we’re entitled to after a long day of training and competition. Rules should apply to everyone, even to those enforcing them.”

Since sharing her latest statement on Friday, Vondrousova has received comments of support from Katie Boulter, Elina Svitolina, Eva Lys and Ons Jabeur, among others.