Professional tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been issued a provisional suspension from all international tennis competition after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a primary cocaine metabolite, according to an announcement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The positive sample was collected from the 31-year-old Australian during the Mallorca Open on June 22, where he competed in the tournament’s singles draw. The suspension officially went into effect on August 4, and the ITIA confirmed Kyrgios retains the right to appeal the ruling — though no appeal has been filed as of the current update.
Under the terms of the suspension, Kyrgios is barred from competing, coaching, or even attending any Grand Slam tournaments or events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s professional tennis tours until a formal tribunal completes its review of the case.
In a public statement shared to his Instagram account, Kyrgios acknowledged he made a serious error and accepted full accountability for his actions. The former world No. 13 opened up about the severe physical and mental strain caused by years of recurring injuries that have limited his playing time in recent seasons. This year alone, he has appeared in just four singles matches, compiling a 1-3 win-loss record, with his most recent competitive appearance coming in men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik exited in the first round.
Kyrgios wrote, “My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do. Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did.” He added that he would step away from social media and public life for 28 days to prioritize his recovery and get his personal well-being back on track.
The Australian also extended apologies to his support network, saying, “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.”
Cocaine is categorized as a prohibited stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s official banned list. While reduced sanctions are typically available for athletes who test positive for the substance out of competition, Kyrgios’ positive test occurred during an in-competition setting. He lost his opening-round singles match at the Mallorca Open to Adam Walton shortly after the sample was collected.
Kyrgios has been one of the most polarizing figures in men’s tennis throughout his career. His on-court conduct, including repeated racket smashes, verbal outbursts against umpires, and audible obscenities, has drawn widespread criticism and resulted in dozens of heavy fines. Off the court, his history includes a 2023 admission of assaulting a former girlfriend in 2021, a case that ended with no criminal conviction. He has also faced backlash for misogynistic comments and a 2024 social media share of content from controversial influencer Andrew Tate, a post he later walked back to distance himself from Tate’s views. Most recently, Kyrgios publicly condemned the handling of high-profile anti-doping cases involving top players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, calling the outcomes “disgusting” for the sport of tennis.
Despite his controversies, Kyrgios has built a notable career resume: he has claimed seven ATP Tour singles titles, reached the 2022 Wimbledon singles final where he lost a four-set match to Novak Djokovic, and won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis. He has also been open about his long-standing struggles with mental health, revealing that he “genuinely contemplated” suicide and spent time in a London psychiatric facility following a 2019 Wimbledon exit.