Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine and was temporarily banned from tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has only participated in two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Following a string of injuries, he is currently ranked 919th in the world.
Kyrgios took to social media to disclose the details of the incident, admitting that he failed a drug test for cocaine in Mallorca after a tournament in June. He expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging his mistake and accepting full responsibility for it. Cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance during competitions, and lesser penalties may be imposed for its use outside of events.
The tennis player has openly discussed his mental health struggles in the past, which were exacerbated by alcohol and drug abuse. Kyrgios mentioned the challenges of accepting the potential end of his career due to injuries over the past two years, stating that despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, it does not justify his actions.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in doubles at Wimbledon, where he and his partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is handling the case and confirmed that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result being verified on July 17, following his Wimbledon appearance.
A mandatory provisional suspension was enforced on August 4 and has not been contested by Kyrgios, according to the ITIA.
