The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that 29-year-old, Portuguese-born tennis player Gonzalo Oliveira, who currently represents Venezuela, has been suspended for violating the Tennis Anti-Doping Code.

Oliveira reached the ATP Doubles World Ranking No. 77 in August 2020 in his career. He provided an in-tournament test sample during his participation in the ATP Challenger in Manzanillo, Mexico, on November 25, 2024, which was divided into A and B bottles, and after analysis, it was found that the A sample contained methamphetamine, which is included in the doping category of the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List and therefore a prohibited substance.

Methamphetamine is a non-specific substance, and according to the regulations, the discovery of a non-specific substance will automatically trigger a mandatory temporary ban. Oliveira has been suspended since January 17, 2025, and he has the right to appeal the decision before the chairman of the independent tribunal, but so far, he has not appealed.

During the suspension period, Oliveira is prohibited from playing, coaching or attending any tennis tournament organized or approved by an ITIA member, including the ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Tennis Association, French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) or any national association.

But Oliveira, who is currently ranked 245th in the singles world, later issued a statement saying he was fully committed to proving his innocence. "I would like to respond to the announcement regarding the provisional ban with full transparency and honesty." Oliveira wrote in his Instagram feed, "This is an extremely difficult moment for me, even harder than the numerous injury setbacks I've experienced in my career. But as I have always done, I am determined to rise to the challenge head-on with determination. I have always participated in the tournament with the highest integrity, respect and love for tennis.

"Tennis is my lifelong passion, and I would never go against my values or take shortcuts to gain an unfair advantage. For me, tennis is more than just a sport, it's a reflection of my life, and I've always held myself to the highest ethical standards, both on and off the court. ”

Kyrgios has been steadfast in his stance on the issue of banning drugs in tennis. Recently, the Australian player has also made critical remarks about Oliveira. Judging by Kyrgios's reaction, he has zero tolerance for the use of banned drugs. He shared the news of the ban on his Instagram feed, where the ATP world No. 245 player has been suspended. "Steroids are fine, but it's crazy! The world of tennis is completely insane. Kyrgios wrote.

The conflict between Kyrgios and the current world No. 1 Sinner has a long history. Ever since the Italian player tested positive for Clostebol in March 2024, Kyrgios has been constantly slamming him in interviews and on social media. Sinner reportedly could face a year-long ban, while Kyrgios took every opportunity to underline his zero-tolerance approach to the ban.

Sinner, the world number one, will appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing on doping cases on April 16-17. The hearing will hear an appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which could result in Sinner being banned for one to two years.

The tennis world has recently been surprised by Sinner's foray into YouTube. However, apart from those who supported his new attempt, Kyrgios did not change his opinion of the Italian player, instead taking the opportunity to harshly ridicule him.

On February 1, 2025, Sinner posted a Vlog on YouTube, showing fans multiple moments of his recent victory. He titled the eight-minute video: "Winning My Second Australian Open Title!" 》

Kyrgios did not miss a mockery of this development, sending a sarcastic tweet that once again referred to Sinner's doping scandal: "Can he show us what happened a year ago? I asked for a friend. ”

With an early exit at the Australian Open, Kyrgios failed to live up to his dream of facing Sinner on court. As the season progresses, the outside world is still expecting a high-profile showdown between the two rivals in the future.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark)