Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine, leading to his provisional suspension from the sport. Following his defeat by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, Kyrgios has participated in only two Grand Slam events due to a series of injuries, resulting in a current ranking of 919th.
Kyrgios took to social media to disclose the details of the incident, admitting to failing a drug test for cocaine in Mallorca, specifically mentioning an incident at a lower-tier tournament in June. He expressed remorse, acknowledging his error and accepting full responsibility for the situation. Cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, with varying degrees of sanctions applicable when used outside of official events.
The 31-year-old player, who has openly shared his struggles with mental health, exacerbated by alcohol and drug misuse, revealed the challenges he has faced in accepting the potential conclusion of his tennis career after enduring two years of injuries. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, Kyrgios emphasized that these circumstances do not excuse his actions.
Kyrgios was granted a wild card entry for the Wimbledon doubles tournament last month, where he and partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle Kyrgios’ case, confirming that his sample was collected on June 22 and the positive test results were verified on July 17, following his Wimbledon participation.
A mandatory provisional suspension was enforced on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, as communicated by the ITIA.