Tennis player Gonzalo Oliveira has issued a statement after he was suspended over testing positive for methamphetamine.
The 29-year-old, who achieved a career-high ranking of world No.77 in doubles in 2020, tested positive for the illegal drug on November 25 while playing an ATP Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially claimed Oliveira, a Portuguese-born player who represents Venezuela, had decided not to appeal, with his mandatory suspension having taken effect on January 17.
But Oliveira, currently ranked world No.245 in singles, later made a statement confirming he was ‘fully committed to proving his innocence’.
‘I want to address the recent announcement of the provisional suspension with complete transparency and honesty,’ Oliveira posted on his Instagram story. ‘This is a truly difficult moment for me – one that feels harder than the many injury setbacks I’ve faced throughout my career.
‘But just as I’ve always done, I’m determined to face this challenge with head-on with strength and resolve. I have always competed with the utmost integrity, respect and love for the game of tennis.
‘This sport has been my lifelong passion, and I would never compromise my values or take shortcuts to gain an unfair advantage. Tennis is more than just a game to me. It’s a reflection of who I am, and I hold myself to the highest standards both on and off the court.
‘I am fully committed to proving my innocence and ensuring that the truth is brought to light. I am cooperating transparently with proactively with the ITIA, and working with lawyers to seek a swift resolution of this unfamiliar process.
‘I have overcome many challenges in my career, and I will overcome this one too. I cannot wait to return to the court and continue doing what I love most. Thank you to everyone who continues to stand by me during this challenging time. Your support means the world to me and I am deeply grateful.’
With a career-high ranking of world No.194 in singles, Oliveira clinched his first-ever ATP Challenger Tour title in Brazzaville just three months ago.
Reacting to Oliveira’s provisional suspension, outspoken Australian star Nick Kyrgios uploaded the theme music from American TV series Breaking Bad on Instagram, a crime drama which follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin who makes meth with one of his students.
Kyrgios’ social media post included a string of laughing and crying emojis and he wrote: ‘Steroids are fine but this is wild. Tennis world gone mad.’
Kyrgios has long been a critic of Italian world No.1 star Jannik Sinner – who made headlines for failing two drug tests last year – while he has also publicly criticised Iga Swiatek, who served a one-month ban in 2024.
The ITIA confirmed Oliveira’s provisional suspension in a statement on Wednesday.
‘The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Gonçalo Oliveira, a 29-year-old Portuguese-born tennis player who currently represents Venezuela, has been provisionally suspended under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP),’ the ITIA said.
‘The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation on 17 January 2025 under Article 2.1 of the TADP (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)).
‘Oliveira, who reached a career-high world doubles ranking of 77 in August 2020, provided an in-competition sample while competing in an ATP Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico, on 25 November 2024.
‘The sample was split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found that the A sample contained metamfetamine, which is prohibited under the TADP, in the category of Stimulants (section S6.A of the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List).
‘Metamfetamine is a non-Specified Substance, and Oliveira did not possess a valid TUE for the substance. Findings for non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension – in Oliveira’s case, this has been in effect from 17 January 2025.
‘Players have the right to appeal the imposition of their provisional suspension before an independent tribunal chair. Oliveira has not appealed.
‘While provisionally suspended, Oliveira is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.
‘The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of their professional tennis events.’
In other tennis news, former world No.1 Simona Halep announced her retirement from the sport this week.
The Romanian was handed a four-year ban in September 2023 after testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat – but it was later reduced to nine months due to a contaminated supplement.
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