Professional Tennis Player Suspended for Doping: Four Years Out of the Courts
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended professional tennis player Goncalo Oliveira, who represents Venezuela, for four years after testing positive for methamphetamine in an anti-doping test. Oliveira’s provisional suspension occurred in January, after a test conducted in November 2024, during the ATP Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico, revealed the presence of the prohibited substance. Both samples, A and B, confirmed the finding. The tennis player, born in Portugal, denied having consumed the drug and presented his defense before an independent tribunal. However, the tribunal determined that Oliveira could not prove that the presence of the drug was involuntary. Considering the time elapsed since his provisional suspension, Oliveira will be able to compete professionally again on January 16, 2029. In August 2020, Oliveira reached the number 77 position in the world doubles ranking, the highest of his career.This case is reminiscent of previous situations where athletes have argued that a kiss was the cause of a positive result in doping tests.
