Former Wimbledon finalist 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 participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Currently ranked 919th due to a series of injuries, Kyrgios shared the details of his situation on social media.
In his statement, Kyrgios admitted to failing a drug test in Mallorca, where he tested positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. He acknowledged his error and accepted full responsibility for it. Cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, with lesser penalties applicable when used outside of events.
Kyrgios, who has openly discussed his mental health challenges exacerbated by alcohol and drug use, expressed his struggles with accepting the potential end of his tennis career following two years of injury setbacks. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, he emphasized that his personal difficulties do not excuse his actions.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in the doubles event at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the initial round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case, confirming that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result confirmed on July 17, post his Wimbledon participation.
A mandatory provisional suspension was imposed on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, as stated by the ITIA.