Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine in an anti-doping test, as announced this Wednesday by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in a statement.
Kyrgios, 31, tested positive during a control on 22 June 2026 during the ATP 250 event in Mallorca. On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Due to its nature as a stimulant, cocaine is on the WADA Prohibited List.
“Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in place since 4 August 2026,” explained the ITIA, the agency responsible for the anti-doping programme in tennis, in a statement.
Kyrgios has the right to appeal this provisional suspension, but has not submitted any appeal to date. While suspended, Kyrgios is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any event organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, the WTA, the ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association.
The player was granted a wildcard by the organizers of the Mallorca ATP 250, where he lost in the first round to his compatriot Adam Walton.
Kyrgios apologizes in a statement
The Australian tennis player, who reached a career-high world ranking of 13, has admitted fault in a statement and publicly apologized.
“I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself,” Kyrgios explained before attempting to clarify the reasons that led him to this situation.
“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been. The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined,” he added.
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“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis – tennis chose me. But letting go of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. At times I’ve felt helpless and alone. None of that excuses what I did. However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call. For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.
“I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family. I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better,” Kyrgios concluded.
Possessing extraordinary talent with a racquet, the Australian is one of the most controversial tennis players of recent decades, with his name frequently linked to partying and late nights. In 2023, before an Australian court, he also admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
The winner of seven ATP titles suffered multiple injuries in recent years that prevented him from competing at the highest level. Since October 2022, months after reaching the Wimbledon final, he played a total of ten matches with a record of eight losses and two wins.
