Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine and was temporarily banned from the sport of tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has only competed in two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Following a string of injuries, he is currently ranked 919th in the world.
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-tier tournament in June. Acknowledging his error, he admitted full responsibility for the situation. The use of cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance during competitions, and lesser penalties may apply when it is detected outside of tournament settings.
Known for his mental health challenges, which have been exacerbated by alcohol and drug issues, Kyrgios expressed the struggle of accepting the potential conclusion of his tennis career after being plagued by injuries for the past two years. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, he emphasized that his personal difficulties do not justify his actions.
Kyrgios recently received a wild card to participate in the doubles event at Wimbledon, where he and his partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case, revealing that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22 and the positive test results were confirmed on July 17, following his Wimbledon appearance.
An immediate provisional suspension was imposed on August 4 and has not been contested by Kyrgios, according to the ITIA.