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Tennis player who used 'kissing' as anti-doping defense suspended for four years
Tennis player Gonçalo Oliveira was suspended for four years after testing positive for methamphetamine at a Challenger event in Manzanillo, Colima, raising serious questions about doping in sports.
- Gonçalo Oliveira, a player representing Venezuela, tested positive for methamphetamine during an ATP Tour Challenger event in Manzanillo, Colima, in November 2024.
- Following the positive test, the International Tennis Integrity Agency provisionally suspended Oliveira in January, leading to a four-year ban from competitive tennis.
- Oliveiras defense claimed that kissing a woman who used methamphetamine influenced his positive test result, a controversial explanation that has drawn significant attention within the tennis community.
Why It Matters
This incident underscores ongoing challenges in combatting doping in professional sports, as athletes grapple with stringent regulations and the complexities of substance use. The case may influence future policies and athlete conduct in tennis, particularly regarding doping defenses.