Marketa Vondrousova opens up on mental toll of 6-month doping case, eyes CAS appeal
Marketa Vondrousova says the past few months 'took away my joy' after receiving a 4-year suspension for a missed out-of-competition test. The Czech star may appeal to CAS.
'My joy is gone' says Vondrousova devastated after 4-year ban for missed doping test...
Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova has broken her silence on the 4-year ban she got for skipping an out-of-competition doping test last December. In a raw statement, she insisted she never took banned substances in her career, detailed the draining 6 months leading up to the independent tribunal, and opened up about the mental toll it’s taken on her.
“I never imagined I would have to write something like this. Every day you feel the fear of losing control over your own life. This is an incredibly exhausting and painful period that has affected my life far more than I ever could have imagined,” Vondrousova wrote on Instagram.
She hit out at the ITIA for handling her case as if she’d actually tested positive for a banned substance, even though no sample was ever taken.
“Tennis has been my whole life since I first picked up a racket as a little girl. It gave me everything, and I gave everything back. I have never doped, and I have never had a single positive test in my career.
“I always stepped onto the court knowing I had never taken anything illegal,” she emphasised, adding that just 72 hours after the disputed incident, she underwent a new test with a clean record: “The result was negative. Just like every test before.”
ITIA officials say tests can be uncomfortable but are vital to keep sport clean. Vondrousova, 26, gave a different view, showing the tougher, more personal cost of the investigation.
“The last seven months have been the hardest of my life. Seven months of waiting, uncertainty, and struggle. Instead of daily hope, these months were filled with fear and helplessness. A time when I had to open up my private life in ways most people would only share with those closest to them,” Vondrousova described the ordeal leading up to the verdict.
“I cooperated, answered every question, and provided everything that was required. I testified before the tribunal and put every ounce of my energy into it. Every day I updated my whereabouts so I could be tested. And I was tested. Every test was negative.”
The independent tribunal admitted in its ruling that Vondrousova wasn’t thinking straight that night because of an acute stress reaction. But they still ruled it wasn’t enough to excuse her. In reply, the Czech player sent a blunt message to tennis authorities.
“The whole time you hope that the truth will be enough. That if you are honest and cooperative, things will turn out well. But sometimes that's not enough,” Vondrousova continued.
“I have always respected the rules and I understand why they exist. I just wish they never lose their humanity. And that those responsible for enforcing them are held to the same standards.”
It’s not clear yet if the 2023 Czech Athlete of the Year will take her final shot and appeal to CAS in Lausanne. Her lawyer Jan Exner hinted at that option right after the verdict.
Read Also: Vondrousova Gets 4-Year Ban: Tribunal Rejects 'Stress Reaction' Defense
For now, Vondrousova says her main focus isn’t the legal fight. She just wants to find some peace of mind.
“One of the hardest things was coming to terms with the fact that the future of my career is no longer in my hands. I am proud that we didn't give up and fought until the very last day. But today, I can't say what comes next,” she concluded her statement. “The past few months have taken away my joy, confidence, and sense of security. I don't know how long it will take to find those things again.”
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