Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios made a public announcement on Wednesday, disclosing his positive test for cocaine and subsequent provisional suspension from the sport of tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who faced defeat by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Currently ranked 919th due to a string of injuries, Kyrgios shared the specifics of his situation on social media.
In his statement, Kyrgios admitted to failing a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. Acknowledging his error, he took full accountability, stating, “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine.” Cocaine is considered a prohibited substance for doping during competitive events, with potential lesser penalties when detected outside of competitions.
Kyrgios, who has previously opened up about his mental health challenges exacerbated by alcohol and drug usage, expressed his struggles in coping with the realization of nearing the conclusion of his tennis career following two years of physical setbacks. Despite feeling moments of helplessness and isolation, he emphasized that these circumstances do not excuse his actions.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in doubles at Wimbledon, where he and his partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will oversee the case, revealing that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, and the positive result was confirmed on July 17, post his Wimbledon appearance. An immediate provisional suspension was enforced on August 4 and remains unchallenged by Kyrgios, as confirmed by the ITIA.