Tennis

Murray late for OBE ceremony after drug test

ESPN staff

October 17, 2013

Murray receives OBE

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was forced to make a mad dash to Buckingham Palace on Thursday morning after being stopped for a random drug test as he prepared to pick up his OBE.

Murray had to give a sample at home before he left to receive the honour from Prince William.

He saw the funny side, however, revealing on Twitter that he was likely to be delayed.

In the middle of a drug test hahaha I'm goin to be late!!!— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) October 17, 2013

He eventually arrived with girlfriend Kim Sears as well as parents Judy and Willie, posing for photographs.

Murray then laughed and joked with the Duke of Cambridge for nearly a minute as he was awarded his medal.

"He just asked me about my surgery and asked me how I had been since Wimbledon," said Murray, who added that he would be back training in four weeks after a back injury curtailed his season.

Murray also revealed that Prince William's wife, Kate, wrote a letter to him after Wimbledon. "I told him her handwriting is fantastic," Murray said.

Judy Murray later took to Twitter to reveal her pride at seeing her son bestowed with such a prestigious honour:

Yes, I cried. #OBE pic.twitter.com/elDwhTiFed— judy murray (@judmoo) October 17, 2013

The Scot was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours before he won Wimbledon, having earned his maiden grand slam title at the 2012 US Open after winning Olympic gold in London.

He became the first British man in 77 years to win the singles title at Wimbledon after beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets.