Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, made a public announcement on Wednesday disclosing his positive cocaine test result, leading to his temporary suspension from professional tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who faced Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments following the event. Due to a string of injuries, Kyrgios currently holds the 919th rank in the tennis world.
In a social media post, Kyrgios admitted to failing a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. He took full responsibility for his actions, acknowledging his significant error. Cocaine is deemed a prohibited substance in competitive sports, with varying penalties depending on whether it was used during or outside of events.
Kyrgios, who has previously shared his struggles with mental health exacerbated by alcohol and substance abuse, expressed the challenges he faces as he nears the conclusion of his tennis career after enduring two years of injuries. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, he emphasized that it does not excuse his misconduct.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in the doubles event at Wimbledon alongside partner Alexander Bublik, but they were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case, revealing that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result confirmed on July 17 following his Wimbledon appearance.
A mandatory provisional suspension was enforced on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, according to the ITIA.