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Wimbledon champion releases furious statement after drug tester suddenly showed up
Reach Daily Express | December 4, 2025 7:39 PM CST

Marketa Vondrousova posted a furious statement on social media after a surprise visit from a drug tester, which she deemed a 'serious intrusion' of her privacy. All players on the ATP and WTA Tours are forced to undergo strict testing to ensure they are not taking any banned substances. Those found in breach of the rules could be subjected to various punishments including fines, suspensions and being made to give up prize money.

Under the current regulations, players must choose a one-hour window when they will be available for a surprise test at home, every day of the year. Vondrousova, however, said that she was forced to provide a sample outside that window following a visit from a drug tester. She reacted furiously on Instagram, insisting that her private life was not being respected in an explosive statement.

The one-time Wimbledon champion 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."

According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), out-of-competition testing can occur at any time, regardless of whether or not an athlete is in the registered testing pool. While testers aim to avoid unnecessary intrusion, they are not liable for disruptions.

Players who are not available in their designated one-hour window risk falling foul of the 'three strikes' rule. It states that three failures within a period of 12 months are considered an anti-doping violation equivalent to a positive test.

This would typically result in a suspension ranging from one to two years. However, the duration of a ban can be extended to four years, depending on the athlete's degree of fault.

A number of players have run afoul of the rules, with Mikael Ymer receiving a ban of 18 months in 2023 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned an initial acquittal.

Another athlete who suffered a similar fate was Jenson Brooksby, who was suspended for 13 months after it was determined that his degree of fault was 'high'. Both players returned to competitive action in early 2025.


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