Tennis player banned from competition because of a kiss

The Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) announced a four-year ban on Oliveira. Previously, the 30-year-old tennis player was suspended from January due to test results from two samples in late 2024 positive for the banned substance methamphetamine.

At that time, Oliveira was competing at the Manzanillo Open tournament in Mexico, then was taken for a doping test. During a hearing with an independent investigation board, the Venezuelan tennis player said the cause of his exposure to a banned substance was "kissing someone else". However, this explanation was rejected by the authorities, who also affirmed that they had not received any further clear and convincing evidence from Oliveira.

Many opinions believe that the sentence Oliveira received was quite severe, if looking back at the case of Jannik Sinner. Last year, the Italian tennis player also tested positive for the banned substance clostebol, with an explanation due to negligence from a team member. ITIA accepted this explanation and then reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on a "racket suspension" order that only lasted three months.

In Oliveira's case, he received a notice of violation of anti-doping regulations on January 17. Specifically, two test samples showed that the Portuguese-born tennis player's body contained methamphetamine - included in WADA's list of banned substances in 2024, while he did not have a valid certificate of exemption from using this substance.

With the verdict, Oliveira had his entire competition record canceled for the period from the time he tested positive for a banned substance until he was temporarily suspended. Oliveira's punishment ends on January 16, 2029, meaning he is not allowed to compete, train or attend any events licensed by ITIA.

Up to this point in his career, the highest rank Oliveira has ever reached is world position 194 in December 2017. This tennis player mainly plays at the Challenger level, has 18 titles, and currently owns a total prize money of more than 540,000 USD.