Serena Williams and Coco Gauff hit out at anti-doping system after Marketa Vondrousova ban

30 Jun 2026 • 10:37 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Serena Williams and Coco Gauff hit out at anti-doping system after Marketa Vondrousova ban

  • 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova received a four-year ban for refusing a doping test in December 2025, sparking a significant debate among tennis players about the sport's anti-doping protocols.
  • Several top players, including Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, and Ajla Tomljanovic, have voiced their distress and criticism of the system, citing experiences with pushy doping control officers, near bans due to technicalities, and a perceived lack of understanding from authorities.
  • Vondrousova's ban resulted from her refusal to take a test when a doping control officer arrived at her apartment outside her designated 60-minute window, though an independent tribunal found no compelling justification for her refusal.
  • The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) clarifies that Doping Control Officers can test players outside their scheduled hour if they are located and notified, emphasizing that test refusals are sanctioned as severely as positive tests under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
  • Jessica Pegula and other players argue that Vondrousova's four-year ban is excessively harsh, especially when contrasted with shorter suspensions given to other high-profile players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for accidental or unintentional positive doping tests.

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