“Use the Andre Agassi defense”;”He should change his name to Jannik Sinner”- Fans shocked as ATP No. 245 tests positive for meth, faces doping ban

Fans Outraged Over Gonçalo Oliveira’s Doping Suspension, Cite Agassi and Sinner Cases

Tennis fans have voiced their frustration over World No. 245 Gonçalo Oliveira’s provisional suspension under the tennis anti-doping program, drawing comparisons to the way Andre Agassi and Jannik Sinner were treated in similar situations. Many believe lower-ranked players face harsher punishments than top-tier stars.

Comparisons to Sinner and Swiatek’s Cases Spark Outrage

Tennis was rocked by doping scandals last year when World No. 1 Jannik Sinner tested positive for Clostebol in August 2024. Before the sport could recover from the shock, Iga Swiatek also revealed a one-month suspension after testing positive for Trimetazidine. However, both players received minor punishments, leading to accusations of preferential treatment for higher-ranked players.

With Oliveira now provisionally suspended for testing positive for Metamfetamine, fans have taken to social media to express outrage over the perceived double standards.

Fans Call Out ITIA for Unequal Treatment

The 29-year-old Oliveira tested positive for Metamfetamine and lacked a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), leading to his provisional suspension on January 17, 2025, by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Many fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the ITIA’s handling of lower-ranked players compared to elite athletes.

• One fan sarcastically referenced Andre Agassi’s past doping scandal, writing:
  “He should use the Agassi defense and say his drink was spiked.”
  (In his autobiography, Agassi admitted to testing positive for Metamfetamine in the late 1990s but avoided punishment by falsely claiming he drank from his assistant’s spiked soda.)
• Another fan mocked Jannik Sinner’s case, saying:
  “He should probably change his name to Sinner.”

Other reactions included:

• “Another day, another ITIA suspension for a lower-ranked player. But when Sinner tested positive, his appeal was accepted on the same day—based on one of the most dubious stories I’ve ever heard. How did they approve it so quickly?”
• “It’s getting ridiculous now. They ban lower-ranked players but protect big names.”
• “Why do recreational drug users get harsher bans than top players like Sinner and Swiatek, who took PEDs and walked away free?”

Andre Agassi’s Past Doping Scandal Resurfaces

Amid the controversy, Andre Agassi’s doping confession has resurfaced. The eight-time Grand Slam champion revealed in his 2009 autobiography, “Open,” that he used crystal Metamfetamine in 1997 and lied to the ATP to avoid suspension.

Agassi claimed he accidentally consumed his assistant’s soft drink laced with the substance, a story that the ATP accepted, allowing him to escape punishment. He later rebuilt his career, completing a career Grand Slam at the 1999 French Open and winning the US Open the same year.

With Oliveira’s case now under scrutiny, fans are questioning whether tennis has truly reformed its stance on doping—or if favoritism still exists at the highest level.