Gabriella Taylor: Police investigate claims tennis player was poisoned
Police are investigating claims that a teenage British tennis player was poisoned at Wimbledon last month.
Gabriella Taylor, 18, spent four days in intensive care after becoming unwell during her girls’ quarter-final match.
Scotland Yard says it has received an allegation of poisoning with the “intent to endanger life” or cause grievous bodily harm.
Taylor’s mother confirmed to BBC Radio Solent that the matter was being dealt with by police.
Milena Taylor also told the Daily Telegraph her daughter had been “close to death”.
The teenager had been staying “in a completely healthy environment” and it was “impossible” for her to have simply become ill, she told the paper.
The junior player last week spoke to BBC Sport about the mystery illness she contracted during the tournament, saying: “It was such an awful experience, probably the worst time of my life.”
A police statement said the allegation was received by officers on 5 August, concerning a possible offence at an address in Wimbledon between 1 and 10 July.
“It is unknown where or when the poison was ingested,” a spokesman added.
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