Police are investigating allegations a junior British tennis player was poisoned during the Wimbledon Championships to ruin her chances in the tournament.
Gabriella Taylor, 18, was left “close to death” from what her family initially assumed was a mystery virus, spending four days in intensive care after becoming unwell during a girls’ quarter-final match.
But doctors treating her diagnosed a strain of Leptospirois – a bacteria carried by rat urine that can cause organ failure.
Scotland Yard is now investigating claims Miss Taylor was deliberately poisoned during the world-famous tennis tournament, possibly by a rival or criminal betting syndicate.
Her mother, Milena Taylor, told the Daily Telegraph her daughter was in good shape and playing well in the early stages.
“She got to the quarter-final, but then the next thing she is lying in intensive care close to death,” she added.
“When the infection team explained what it was we could not believe it.”
The family believes the occurrence of the bacteria, which is extremely rare in Britain, could not have been an accident as Miss Taylor moved between clean environments at the National Tennis Centre and All England Club.
The Metropolitan Police said officers in the London borough of Merton were investigating an allegation of poisoning with the “intent to endanger life” or cause grievous bodily harm.
"The allegation was received by officers on August 5 with the incident alleged to have taken place at an address in Wimbledon between 1-10 July,” a spokesperson said.
"The victim was taken ill on 6 July. It is unknown where or when the poison was ingested.
"The victim, an 18-year-old woman, received hospital treatment and is still recovering."
No arrests have been made.
Miss Taylor, from Southampton, is now on the road to recovery and has resumed her training.
On Wednesday she tweeted a picture of herself on a tennis court with the caption: ”So happy to be back on court!! Taking it step by step!“
Her world ranking currently stands at 381, with $37,970 (£29,200) prize money won in her career so far.
