British tennis star Emma Raducanu says she turned down treatment for insect bites ahead of this year’s Australian Open over concerns about what she could be putting in her body.

Raducanu, who faces No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the opening round, said in her pre-tournament news conference that she got “badly bitten” by ants or mosquitoes Thursday January 9. Despite suffering what she described as an allergic reaction, Raducanu did not administer an antiseptic spray provided to her by someone in attendance.

Emma Raducanu has revealed she refused to use antiseptic spray on insect bites at the Australian Open, fearing it could lead to a failed drug test. The British No 2's cautious approach comes after recent positive tests by other players,

Raducanu said she was left with a swollen ankle and hand after the insect bites triggered an allergic reaction but the former US Open champion opted to “tough it out” because she didn’t want to risk failing a drugs test.

Emma Raducanu's former coach, Mark Petchey, believes the tennis star is 'misunderstood' as the start of the 2025 Australian Open creeps closer. The 22-year-old has struggled with injuries ever since winning the US Open back in 2021,

Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year and the 113th running of the event, starts at Melbourne Park on Sunday with four British women, including the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu,