Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova expressed her frustration on social media after receiving an unexpected visit from anti-doping officials outside her declared testing window. The Czech player criticized the intrusion, arguing that the rules should be respected by both athletes and the organizations enforcing them.
Vondrousova’s statement
In her Instagram stories, Vondrousova explained the situation in detail. “Every day, we are required to be at home for one specific hour doping control. I respect that rule — every single day,” she wrote. “Tonight, however, a tester arrived at 8:15 p.m. and told me that the time I had declared 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.’”
Clarification of her complaint
Vondrousova stressed that her criticism was not about avoiding anti-doping tests but about respecting the established rules. “Is it normal for doping officers to sit in our living rooms at night waiting for us to pee? This is not about avoiding a test — it’s about respect. Respect for the rules that we follow, and for the personal life we’re entitled to after a long day of training and competition. Rules should apply to everyone. Even to those enforcing them,” she added.
A season marked by highs and setbacks
The 26-year-old finished the season ranked World No. 34. Despite injuries, she managed to win the WTA 500 Berlin Open and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, where she was forced to withdraw before facing eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Anti-doping rules under scrutiny
Her complaint has reignited debate over the strict anti-doping regulations. Under the current program, players must provide accurate whereabouts information for out-of-competition testing. The “Three Strikes Rule” states that three failures to comply within a 12-month period count as a violation equivalent to a positive test, carrying suspensions of one to two years, and in some cases up to four years depending on the severity of the fault.
Marketa Vondrousova in 2025
Currently the world no.34, Vondrousova played her last match on the 20th of October when she had to retire when playing against world no.19 Karolina Muchova in the 1st round and the scoreline was 6-2 1-0 .
Currently, during this year Vondrousova has achieved a compiled 18-10 record. The Czech conquered 1 title in Berlin.
