Tennis athlete Goncalo Oliveira has been suspended for four years following a positive drug test for methamphetamine during the Manzanillo Open in Mexico last November. The International Tennis Integrity Agency revealed that Oliveira attributed the result to potential contamination through kissing or environmental factors, but an independent tribunal found insufficient evidence to support this claim.
The ITIA announced that Oliveira is stripped of any results, prize money, and ranking points earned from the event where the violation occurred, as well as subsequent competitions during his suspension period. Born in Portugal but representing Venezuela in tennis, Oliveira received a provisional suspension in January.
In response to the anti-doping allegation, Oliveira explained that he had contact with a woman at a bar who later admitted to taking drugs, which he was unaware of at the time. Despite uncertainties about potential contamination, Oliveira emphasized the possibility that should not be dismissed.
Following a hearing before an independent tribunal in London, Oliveira has been suspended until January 16, 2029, with the ban already in effect. Throughout the suspension, Oliveira is prohibited from participating in any ITIA-sanctioned events. He achieved a career-high ranking of No. 194 in the world in 2017 but has since dropped to No. 460.
Although Oliveira has secured 18 titles on the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Futures Tour, he has not competed in a Grand Slam event. Notably, he narrowly missed qualifying for the French Open main draw in 2018 and participated in the qualifying rounds of Wimbledon in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2024.