Kyrgios Suspended from Tennis After Cocaine Test Positivity
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Kyrgios suspended after positive cocaine test
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Nick Kyrgios has won one and lost three of his four singles matches this year
By Amy Lofthouse, BBC Sport senior journalist
Published 41 minutes ago
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Former world number 13, Kyrgios, has been provisionally suspended since 4 August.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension "but has not done so to date".
In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios stated:
"I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it."
Under the suspension, Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours pending the outcome of a tribunal.
The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with knee and wrist injuries in recent years. He last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
In a lengthy statement on Instagram, Kyrgios reflected:
"The last few years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically."
"My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do," he wrote. "Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined."
Kyrgios continued:
"None of that excuses what I did."
He added that he would be stepping away from social media and public life for 28 days to "focus on getting myself right".
Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list. Reduced sanctions apply for athletes who test positive for the substance out of competition. However, Kyrgios’ sample was submitted during a tournament in which he played singles, ultimately losing in the first round.
"I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me," Kyrgios concluded. "Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself."
Kyrgios has long been a controversial figure in tennis. His behaviour on court has been widely criticised and he has been given numerous large fines for smashing racquets, making audible obscenities, and arguing with the umpire. In 2023, he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend two years earlier. He avoided a criminal conviction.
He was further criticised for making a series of comments considered misogynistic. In 2024, he shared a post from controversial influencer Andrew Tate. He later said he had gone "to all lengths" to distance himself from the self-proclaimed misogynist.
Kyrgios was also critical of the handling of two high-profile anti-doping cases involving top players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, calling the process "a joke".
