Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been handed a one-month suspension after admitting to testing positive for cocaine, making him eligible to compete again as of Thursday.
The 31-year-old was provisionally suspended on 4 August following a sample collected during the Mallorca Open in June. The sample tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of the drug.
Kyrgios informed investigators from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that he used the substance during a night out prior to the tournament. After reviewing the case with an independent expert, the ITIA determined the use occurred outside of competition.
Although Kyrgios faced a maximum ban of three months, the penalty was reduced to one month because he enrolled in a treatment program. In addition to the suspension, he will forfeit the prize money and ranking points earned at the Mallorca event, where he exited in the first round.
Upon the announcement of the positive test, Kyrgios stated he would step away from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on his wellbeing. He has competed in only four singles matches this season, having dealt with persistent knee and wrist injuries over recent years.
His most recent appearance was in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round. Following his initial suspension, Kyrgios acknowledged that years of physical and mental struggles had significantly impacted him, though he emphasized that these challenges did not justify his actions.
Cocaine is listed as a prohibited stimulant and substance of abuse by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Kyrgios, a former world number 13, has a history of controversy on and off the court, including fines for on-court behavior and past comments that drew criticism. He previously addressed mental health struggles, including a stay in a London psychiatric hospital following his 2019 Wimbledon run.
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