Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine and was temporarily banned from professional tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has only participated in two Grand Slam tournaments since then due to a series of injuries, resulting in a current ranking of 919th in the world.
Kyrgios took to social media to disclose the details of the incident, revealing that he failed a drug test in Mallorca after being found with cocaine, following a lower-level tournament in June. Expressing remorse, he admitted to the error and accepted full accountability for his actions.
Competitive regulations prohibit the use of cocaine as a performance-enhancing substance during tournaments, with varying penalties for off-competition usage. Kyrgios, who has openly discussed his struggles with mental health exacerbated by substance abuse, acknowledged the challenges of facing the conclusion of his career amidst a prolonged period of injuries.
Despite receiving a wild card to compete in the doubles event at Wimbledon alongside Alexander Bublik, Kyrgios and his partner were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is overseeing the case, confirming that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result confirmed on July 17 post his Wimbledon appearance.
Following a mandatory provisional suspension issued on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, the ITIA is set to pursue further actions regarding the doping violation.