Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios made a public announcement on Wednesday, disclosing that he had tested positive for cocaine and as a result, he has been provisionally suspended from the world of tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who faced defeat against Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments following that event. Currently, Kyrgios holds the 919th position in the rankings due to a series of injuries.
Kyrgios took to social media to share the details of his situation, admitting to failing a drug test in Mallorca where he tested positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. Expressing regret, he stated, “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it.” Cocaine is classified as a banned substance in competitive sports, with varying degrees of sanctions based on the context of its usage.
The tennis player has openly discussed his previous struggles with mental health, which have been exacerbated by alcohol and drug consumption. Kyrgios revealed the challenges he has faced in accepting the potential conclusion of his career due to a prolonged period of injuries, stating, “At times I’ve felt helpless and alone. None of that excuses what I did.”
Despite his recent setbacks, Kyrgios was granted a wild card to participate in the Wimbledon doubles event last month, where he exited in the initial round alongside partner Alexander Bublik. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will be handling the case and has disclosed that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive test confirmation occurring on July 17, subsequent to his Wimbledon appearance.
A mandatory provisional suspension was enforced on August 4, and as of now, Kyrgios has not appealed against this decision, as confirmed by the ITIA.