"World Has Gone Mad": Kyrgios Reacts as Tennis Player Tests Positive for Methamphetamine
Back in early February, the tennis world got a jolt when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced some shocking news: professional player Goncalo Oliveira had tested positive for methamphetamine.
Oliveira, a 29-year-old Portuguese-born player representing Venezuela, provided the sample during an ATP Challenger event in Mexico back on November 25, 2024. Analysis confirmed the presence of meth, a substance strictly prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, for which Oliveira held no Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
As a result, the ITIA handed Oliveira a provisional suspension starting January 17, 2025. This means he's barred from competing in, coaching at, or even attending any professional tennis events while suspended. Notably, Oliveira chose not to appeal this initial suspension.
Never one to shy away from controversy, Australia's Nick Kyrgios quickly weighed in on the news. His blunt take? The "world has gone mad."
Kyrgios has been vocal about doping in tennis before, particularly regarding Jannik Sinner's case from 2024. Sinner tested positive for clostebol (an anabolic steroid) but was ultimately found to have "no fault or negligence" due to contamination from his physio, although he forfeited points and prize money from the tournament in question. WADA has since appealed that ruling, and Kyrgios has repeatedly expressed disagreement with the initial outcome for Sinner.
While the circumstances differ vastly (meth vs. clostebol, no appeal vs. successful appeal/no fault finding), Kyrgios's comment on the Oliveira situation reflects his ongoing frustration and commentary on doping issues within the sport. It certainly adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about integrity and banned substances in professional tennis.
