Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been banned for a month for testing positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition sample taken in Mallorca in June. A month earlier on August 4, at 31, he had already received a provisional suspension but his sentence of three months had been shortened. This happened after he was persuaded to go to an approved treatment programme that is recognized by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The ITIA believed that Kyrgios used cocaine socially at a party night out a few days before a competition event was due to take place, a relevant expert had confirmed the dose found was consistent with the claims made.
Kyrgios publicly acknowledged the violation last month, taking responsibility for his actions and apologizing to those around him. “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” he wrote. “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.” He also addressed his young supporters, saying, “Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me,” while admitting he was deeply disappointed in himself. Kyrgios’s ban ended on the 3 September and he is eligible to return to play from 4 September, providing he finishes his treatment programme, although he will be stripped of prize money and ranking points gained at Mallorca.
Nick Kyrgios’ return begins after controversial one-month suspension
Nick Kyrgios had accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine at an ATP tournament in Mallorca in June. The Australian, who had been provisionally suspended since August 4, told International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) investigators that he had used cocaine “socially during a night out” before he was due to compete. After consulting an independent scientific expert from a WADA-accredited laboratory, the ITIA accepted that the use occurred outside competition. Under WADA rules, the standard suspension was three months, but it was reduced to one month after Kyrgios agreed to enter an ITIA-approved treatment programme.
The suspension adds another difficult chapter to Kyrgios’ already uncertain comeback. Injuries have severely limited his career in recent years, with the Australian playing only four official singles matches this season. Despite the setback, he has taken responsibility for his actions, writing, “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.”
He also apologized to his supporters saying, “Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me,” and admitted he was deeply disappointed in himself. With the ban ending on September 3, Kyrgios is now eligible to compete again, although he will forfeit the prize money and ranking points earned in Mallorca. His return will now be about more than simply getting back on court, it will be a chance to find out whether the talent that once made him a Wimbledon finalist can still produce a meaningful comeback.
