Quang Duong Hit With Costly Suspension: The United Pickleball Association has suspended 19-year-old Quang Duong for joining a non-PPA tournament without permission. The violation happened while Duong was visiting Vietnam. His contract does not allow him to play in outside events without prior approval. Now, he must miss one PPA tournament and four Major League Pickleball matches.
Suspension Details
The United Pickleball Association handed out three penalties. First, Quang Duong cannot play in one PPA Tour event. Second, he will miss four matches in the 2025 MLP Phoenix. Third, he must pay a $50,000 fine. These actions were taken because Duong broke the contract rule on event exclusivity.
Duong is currently signed with the Los Angeles Mad Drops in Major League Pickleball. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2025 free agency draft. The team has six matches scheduled at the 2025 MLP Phoenix, which begins on Thursday. Duong will miss more than half of them.
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Violation in Vietnam
The suspension comes after Duong reportedly played in a tournament in Vietnam over the weekend. He was visiting his home country at the time. Players under United Pickleball Association contracts must get permission before entering non-PPA events. That permission was not granted in Duong’s case.
Duong posted on social media about his time in Vietnam. He mentioned that he took part in a charity event while there.
Even if the event was more of a charity event than a real tournament, Duong still needed to get approval from the UPA before playing. But it seemed like he didn’t do that.
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What This Means
The impact of the suspension is major. Duong must now sit out the Select Medical Orange County Cup in June. That tournament is one of the biggest of the season and offers 1,500 ranking points. Missing it could hurt his standing in future rankings.
The Los Angeles Mad Drops will also feel the loss. With Duong suspended for four matches, the team may struggle to compete at full strength during the 2025 MLP Phoenix. What happens next may depend on whether the UPA gives more clarity on the rules for charity events abroad.
News in Brief: Quang Duong Hit With Costly Suspension
Quang Duong has been suspended by the United Pickleball Association for playing in an unsanctioned event in Vietnam. He will miss one PPA event and four 2025 MLP Phoenix matches and must pay a $50,000 fine. Duong’s team, the Los Angeles Mad Drops, now faces key matches without him.
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This guy never saw a contract he wasn’t willing to break if it suits him. If it happens again, he and his dad should be booted off the tour.