Tennis Player Suspended for Doping After Claiming a Kiss as the Cause
Professional tennis player Goncalo Oliveira, who represents Venezuela, has been suspended for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for methamphetamine.
The suspension occurred after an anti-doping control carried out in November 2024 during an ATP Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico. Both sample A and B of the player tested positive for the prohibited substance.
Oliveira, born in Portugal, denied having consumed the drug and presented his defense before an independent tribunal. However, the tribunal determined that the tennis player could not prove that the presence of the drug was involuntary.
Due to the time he has already been provisionally suspended, Oliveira will be able to compete professionally again on January 16, 2029.
In August 2020, Oliveira reached his best world ranking in doubles, reaching the 77th position.
This case is reminiscent of others in the sports world where it has been alleged that a kiss caused a positive result in a doping test.
