Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios announced on Wednesday that he tested positive for cocaine and received a temporary suspension from professional tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Due to several injuries, his current ranking has dropped to 919th.
Kyrgios took to social media to disclose the details of his drug test failure in Mallorca, where he tested positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. Acknowledging his mistake, he accepted full responsibility, stating, “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine.”
Cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance during competitions, with varying degrees of penalties depending on whether it was used outside of events. Kyrgios has previously shared his struggles with mental health, worsened by alcohol and drug abuse, particularly as he grapples with the realization that his tennis career may be nearing its end after a prolonged period of injuries.
Despite feeling overwhelmed and isolated at times, Kyrgios emphasized that his personal challenges do not excuse his actions. Recently, he received a wild card to compete in the Wimbledon doubles event but was eliminated in the first round alongside partner Alexander Bublik.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle Kyrgios’s case, revealing that his sample was collected on June 22, with the positive test confirmed on July 17, following his Wimbledon appearance. A mandatory provisional suspension came into effect on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, according to the ITIA.