Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine, leading to his provisional suspension from professional tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who fell to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then and currently holds a ranking of 919th due to a string of injuries.
Kyrgios took to social media to disclose the details of the incident, admitting that he had failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. Expressing regret, he accepted full responsibility for his actions. Cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, with varying sanctions applicable when used outside of official events.
The tennis player has openly discussed his mental health struggles in the past, exacerbated by alcohol and drug misuse. He acknowledged the challenges of accepting the potential end of his career following two years of injury setbacks. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, Kyrgios emphasized that his personal difficulties did not excuse his behavior.
In a recent Wimbledon appearance, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in the doubles event but was eliminated in the opening round alongside partner Alexander Bublik. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case, revealing that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22 and the positive test was confirmed on July 17, post his Wimbledon participation.
On August 4, a mandatory provisional suspension was imposed on Kyrgios, which remains unchallenged as confirmed by the ITIA.
