WSL Lifts Vasco Ribeiro’s Drug Suspension To Compete In Pumping Morocco QS — But ISA Says No
The Portuguese surfer stays in recess until July 2026.
Despite being banned from competition until July 2026, the World Surf League initially granted Portuguese surfer Vasco Ribeiro permission to compete in Morocco this week.
The former World Junior Champion and five-time Portuguese league winner was set to make his return at the QS 3,000 Pro Taghazout Bay after a challenging hiatus. Ribeiro received a three-year suspension in 2023 after refusing a doping test conducted by an ISA Doping Control Officer at his home in Cascais in April 2022.
Once touted as Portugal’s next great surfing talent, the now 30-year-old Ribeiro faced a tumultuous period following his suspension. He later attributed his absence from the sport to personal struggles with addiction and a lack of awareness of the severity of his decision.
Speaking from Morocco, where he had been preparing for his comeback, Ribeiro told Stab, “I recently realized that my suspension only applies to ISA and Olympic contests, so I can take part in other competitions, including the WSL. I spoke to my family and my lawyer and decided to go ahead.”
In a statement shared ahead of his return, Ribeiro expressed gratitude to the WSL for the opportunity to compete again. “I’m very grateful to the WSL for this opportunity to get back to doing what I love most, which is competing,” he said. “I want to take this opportunity to better myself, to prove to myself that I’m capable of continuing at the highest level.”
Acknowledging his struggles, he added, “I went through a period of major difficulty with addiction, which forced me to relearn how to organize my life and live without drugs. It’s an ongoing process and a daily commitment, but with the support of my family, friends, and professionals, I’ve managed to pick myself up and find myself again.”
He concluded, “If my journey can inspire or help someone to see that there is always a way back, then all this effort will have been worth it. Now I’m looking forward to putting on the jersey and getting back to the heats.”
Throughout this winter season, Ribeiro has been a standout in freesurfs, frequently seen in some of Portugal’s finest lineups. “I’ve spent the past year surfing as much as I can, spending time with my family, and, most importantly, staying clean and healthy.”
Coming from behind and against a ticking clock, Ribeiro had already set a few goals for this chapter of his career. “I know the level on the QS and Challenger Series is always improving, but I’ve been training hard and surfing a lot, so I’m feeling confident. I want to take things as they come, but I feel like I have the level to get to the CS this year, so that would be my main goal.”
Despite being allowed to compete in Morocco, Ribeiro remained barred from other events worldwide, including Liga MEO — the Portuguese surfing league — which he has won five times. Stab reached out to Francisco Rodrigues, President of the National Surfers Association (ANS) and Head of Liga MEO, which follows official rules set by the Portuguese Surfing Federation (FPS).
Rodrigues stated, “The FPS is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Therefore, as of now, out of full respect not only for all the surfing organizations involved (ISA, WSL, and FPS) but also for Vasco Ribeiro, we acknowledge that his suspension remains in effect until mid-2026. This is subject to change if we receive any further official instructions from the FPS.”
ISA Says No
The initial decision to allow Ribeiro to compete in Morocco came directly from WSL HQ, without consulting the ISA and the company’s legal counsel.
Considering that a regional QS event has no implications on Olympic qualification, the ban was seen as counterproductive by the WSL. Many believed that allowing Ribeiro to compete would be more beneficial in helping him overcome personal struggles than sidelining him from the sport entirely.
However, this Friday — with Ribeiro already in Morocco in preparation for the event — he and his lawyer received a letter from the WSL, stating that, following further instructions from the ISA, his suspension had been reinstated. A WSL spokesperson told Stab:
“Following further correspondence with the International Surfing Association (ISA), the WSL has determined that Vasco Ribeiro will not be eligible to compete in the upcoming WSL event in Morocco. The WSL is currently reviewing these developments to determine whether the ISA’s current ban will apply to all WSL events.”
Sources close to Ribeiro described how motivated he was to compete again, making the last-minute decision a devastating blow.
Competing close to home and in familiar conditions, the Pro Taghazout Bay event could have provided the powerful natural-footer with a crucial opportunity to reestablish himself in the competitive circuit (see below for Day 1’s conditions).
A brutal setback for Vasco — having the carrot dangled and then ripped away before he could take a bite. Due to the abrupt change, and in acknowledgment of the late notice, the WSL will be covering Ribeiro’s event registration fees and travel expenses.
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