Nick Kyrgios has accepted and served a reduced one-month suspension following a positive drug test for cocaine at an ATP Tour event in Mallorca. The Australian, who had been provisionally suspended since August 4, entered into a treatment programme approved by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to reduce the default three-month ban stipulated under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.<\/p>\n
Kyrgios provided a sample during the Majorca tournament in June, which tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. During an interview with ITIA investigators, the 31-year-old explained that his use of the substance was social in nature and occurred during a night out prior to his scheduled match.<\/p>\n
An independent scientific expert at a WADA-accredited laboratory reviewed the case and determined that Kyrgios\u2019 explanation was consistent with the levels of cocaine found in his sample. Consequently, the ITIA accepted that the prohibited substance was ingested outside of competition.<\/p>\n
The agency confirmed that Kyrgios\u2019 suspension concludes on Thursday, contingent upon the completion of his approved treatment programme. As part of the sanction, he will forfeit all prize money and ranking points earned from the Mallorca event.<\/p>\n
Kyrgios publicly addressed the incident last month via social media, apologizing to his fans, family, sponsors, and the younger generation of players who look up to him. “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it,” he wrote on Instagram. “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.”\u200b<\/p>\n
His recent competitive record was limited, with his first-round defeat to compatriot Adam Walton in Majorca marking only his fourth singles match of the season since undergoing knee surgery in January 2023.<\/p>\n
Media reaction has highlighted the shift in scrutiny facing the player. Sky Sports Tennis analyst Annabel Croft described Kyrgios as a “tormented soul” who now faces criticism similar to that directed at high-profile athletes like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek during their respective doping controversies. “There is a lot of criticism being thrown at him right now because he was the one firing arrows at other players who had been banned,” Croft noted.<\/p>\n
Former world No. 40 Ryan Harrison emphasized the importance of balance for athletes during periods away from the tour. “Kyrgios needs to find that balance between his responsibilities on the court and his downtime off it,” Harrison said, adding that the unstructured time can be difficult for some players to navigate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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