The tennis world has again been rocked by another anti-doping issue after it was confirmed that Venezuelan tennis player Goncalo Oliveira has been provisionally suspended for allegedly testing positive for methamphetamine.
On Wednesday, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the 29-year-oldhad provided a sample that contained the banned substance at an ATP Tour Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico, in November 2024.
Oliveira, who currently holds a men’s singles ranking of 245, had gone on to reach the final of the tournament in Manzanillo but was beaten by German player Mats Rosenkranz in the showpiece event.
The news has attracted the attention of many from within the tennis world, with Australian star Nick Kyrgios offering up his view of the shocking news.
The Australian took to Instagram to upload a screenshot of an Instagram post from a news agency that had published the story on the social media platform.
Kyrgios had added the theme tune to the hit US television show Breaking Bad onto his Instagram story, captioning the post:’Steroids are fine but this is wild.’
Aussie star Nick Kyrgios has been left baffled by the latest doping scandal to rock tennis
Goncalo Oliveira has been provisionally suspended after it was announced that he had allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine
Kyrgios took to Instagram to issue his views on the ITIA’s ruling, stating: ‘Tennis world gone mad’
He added six laughing emojis, before writing: ‘Tennis world gone mad.’
According to the ITIA, Oliveira has not appealed the provisional suspension.
‘Methamphetamine is a non-Specified Substance, and Oliveira did not possess a valid TUE for the substance,’ the organisation wrote.
‘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.’
He is now prohibited from playing or coaching at any tennis event that is sanctioned by members of the ITIA, which includes the ATP Tour, ITF and the WTA.
Kyrgios, meanwhile, has been outspoken on the matter of doping in tennis of late, with the Australian star having recently hit out at Jannik Sinner.
The two-time Australian Open champion allegedly tested positive for a steroid called clostebol on two occasions during Indian Wells in March 2024.
He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the ITIA later in the year but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed that decision, with Sinner’s case set to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April.
Kyrgios embedded the theme tune to Breaking Bad on his Instagram story, writing: ‘Steroids are fine but this is wild.’
Kyrgios has previously spoken out on doping in tennis, blasting two-time Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner (pictured) who is the subject of an appeal case by WADA
Meanwhile, former world No 1, Iga Swiatek was also handed a one-month suspension after she had been found to have tested positive for a banned substance. She accepted her punishment and served her ban, but Kyrgios hit out at both athletes over the alleged doping rule breaches.
‘Two world No 1s both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport,’ said Kyrgios.
‘It’s a horrible look. Tennis’ integrity right now – and everyone knows it but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful.’
Speaking on Sinner, Kyrgios added: ‘I pay my team hundreds and thousands of dollars to make sure that doesn’t happen,’ he said. ‘So they knew it happened. Why did they wait five to six months to do anything about it? He kept his team for five months — that doesn’t make sense.
‘If he didn’t do anything wrong, why did they take his prize money and points (at Indian Wells) away? Obviously, they found something wrong with this. Obviously, that’s why WADA have appealed it.’
Kyrgios, meanwhile, has used a protected ranking of world No 21 to enter the main draw for next month’s tournament at Indian Wells.
That comes despite the Aussie appearing to battle through injury at the Australian Open last month, having entered the tournament with an abdominal strain, before being knocked out in the opening round of the men’s singles.