Melbourne: Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from professional tennis after testing positive for cocaine. The suspension was enacted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) following a sample provided during a tournament in Mallorca, Spain, in June 2026, which tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
According to Ghana Web, the 31-year-old admitted to making a 'huge mistake' and accepted responsibility for the failed test. In a lengthy Instagram statement, Kyrgios apologized to his fans, family, sponsors, and supporters, especially young fans who look up to him. He expressed remorse and provided some context for his actions, citing the struggles with injuries over the past two years that have taken a significant physical and mental toll on him.
Kyrgios elaborated on his struggles, stating that the injuries made it difficult to accept the potential end of his playing career. Despite these challenges, he acknowledged that they were not an excuse for his actions. Once ranked as high as world No. 13, Kyrgios's ranking has plummeted to 919th due to his ongoing injury issues, limiting him to just four singles matches this season.
After a period away from the court, Kyrgios made a return to Wimbledon in July 2026, participating in the doubles event with partner Alexander Bublik. However, the pair was eliminated in the first round. The provisional suspension now prevents Kyrgios from competing in or coaching at events organized or sanctioned by tennis governing bodies. While he retains the right to appeal the suspension, he had not done so at the time of the ITIA's announcement.
In his statement, Kyrgios also mentioned his decision to step away from social media and public life for a month to focus on personal well-being.