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Martina Hingis once reflected on the doping controversy she faced in 2007, noting its impact on anti-doping policies. Her case led The International Tennis Federation (ITF) to allow tribunals to reduce the standard two-year ban depending on the specifics of each case.
During the 2007 Wimbledon Championships, Hingis tested positive for traces of cocaine. Despite her denial of ever using the drug, she decided to retire from professional tennis for the second time in November 2007, citing the emotional toll of the accusations.
The Swiss appealed against her positive test, stating she was frustrated and believed she was innocent. However, the ITF rejected her appeal in 2008, handed her a two-year ban starting from October 1, 2007, and required her to forfeit the prize money earned at Wimbledon and other tournaments.
In an interview in 2014 with Tennis Now, Martina Hingis reminisced about her doping ban, saying:
"I think I already had my time. The two years of playing (after the first retirement) were kind of a bonus. Even today, what happened there [with the doping violation], it was for the wrong reasons. I always fought against [the accusations]. You can go only so far."
The five-time Grand Slam champion added:
"They changed the rules after me. That tells the whole story, pretty much. A lot of things have changed. I wished they had been already in place when I was having those issues, but oh well. It helped for the others. I think people know that I always said I never took anything. I stood up for me."
Martina Hingis on doping allegations: "I feel 100 percent innocent"
After receiving the doping ban in 2007, Martina Hingis held a press conference in Zurich, Switzerland, where she defended her innocence against the allegations while fighting back tears and announced her second retirement from tennis.
"I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs and I feel 100 percent innocent. The reason I have come out with this is because I do not want to have a fight with anti-doping authorities," she said.
"Because of my age and my health problems I have also decided to retire from professional tennis," she added.
The Swiss continued:
"The attorney and his experts discovered various inconsistencies with the urine sample that was taken during Wimbledon."
"He is also convinced that the doping officials mishandled the process and would not be able to prove that the urine that was tested for cocaine actually came from me," she added.
Hingis returned to the sport in 2013 and excelled as a doubles specialist before hanging up her racket for the final time in 2017.
