Nick Kyrgios Suspended After Positive Cocaine Test

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from professional tennis. This decision follows a positive test for cocaine during a tournament in June in Mallorca, Spain. The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the suspension, which has been in place since August 4.

Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, admitted to making a significant mistake. His ranking has plummeted to 919 after enduring a series of injuries. This year, he only managed to participate in four singles matches. Although he received a wild card for the doubles competition at Wimbledon in July, he and his partner, Alexander Bublik, exited in the first round.

Kyrgios publicly apologized in a statement on Instagram. He expressed regret to his fans, family, sponsors, and particularly young admirers looking up to him. “I know the example this sets,” he said, acknowledging his disappointment in his actions.

The 31-year-old described his recent struggles with injuries, explaining how they affected him physically and mentally. He shared how these challenges made it difficult to accept his career nearing its end.

Kyrgios announced plans to step away from social media and public engagements for a month, focusing on personal recovery. Despite the situation, he emphasized his commitment to the sport’s integrity, saying he would never resort to doping.

Known for his controversial behavior on the court, Kyrgios has a history of confrontations and controversial remarks. In 2015, he made a derogatory comment about another player’s girlfriend. More recently, in 2023, he admitted to pushing his ex-partner two years prior, avoiding criminal charges for the incident.

In 2024, Kyrgios criticized tennis’s handling of high-profile doping cases involving top players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. He expressed disgust over these cases, insisting he would never resort to doping.

Kyrgios has also highlighted his concerns about external distractions during matches. At a U.S. Open match in New York, he complained to officials about the odor of marijuana he believed was affecting his performance.