Nick Kyrgios has tested positive for cocaine and is provisionally suspended from professional tennis, the 31-year-old Australian confirmed Wednesday in a public statement on Instagram. The former Wimbledon finalist faces a ban ranging from a minimum three months to a maximum of four years, depending on whether the substance was found to be used in competition.
“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” Kyrgios wrote. “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it. 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.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the positive test was taken on June 22 at an ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca, Spain. A World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory confirmed the positive result for benzoylecgonine — a cocaine metabolite — on July 17. A mandatory provisional suspension was applied on August 4th. Kyrgios has not appealed the provisional suspension.
Under the suspension, Kyrgios is barred from playing, coaching, or attending any tournaments sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours worldwide, as well as national-level events in Australia. His last competitive appearance was a men’s doubles match at Wimbledon on July 2nd, where he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
The Context: A Career Derailed by Injury
Kyrgios has played just 10 singles matches on the ATP Tour since his peak season of 2022 — the year he reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Novak Djokovic, won the Washington title, and reached the US Open quarterfinals. A knee injury in Tokyo that October effectively ended his run, and he has played only sporadically since, citing wrist issues that caused him to miss Wimbledon in 2023 entirely. He has a 1-3 record in singles this year. His ranking has fallen from a career high of 13 to 919th.
In his statement, Kyrgios did not make excuses but provided context about how difficult the past two years had been. “The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.” He wrote that he had “always said I didn’t choose tennis — tennis chose me. But letting go of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. At times I’ve felt helpless and alone. None of that excuses what I did.”
What Penalty He Is Likely to Face
A comparable case offers some guidance. British player Dan Evans served a one-year ban after testing positive for cocaine at the 2017 Barcelona Open. Cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, but sanctions are reduced when the substance is found to have been used out of competition. Given the circumstances, Kyrgios is expected to receive a sanction on the lighter end of the range rather than the maximum four-year ban.
Kyrgios said the positive test had functioned as a wake-up call. “For the next 28 days I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right. I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family. I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better.” He indicated his career is not necessarily over.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A: Kyrgios tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, from a sample taken on June 22 at an ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca, Spain.
A: He faces a ban ranging from a minimum of three months to a maximum of four years. The likely sanction is expected to be closer to the lower end, based on comparable precedents including Dan Evans’s one-year ban for a similar positive test in 2017.
A: A mandatory provisional suspension was applied on August 4, 2026. Kyrgios has not appealed it.
A: Kyrgios apologised publicly to fans, family, sponsors, and particularly young followers. He provided context about two years of difficult injuries but was clear that nothing excuses what he did. He said the test was a “wake-up call” and that he will do the work to come back better.
A: Kyrgios last played on July 2nd at Wimbledon in men’s doubles alongside Alexander Bublik, losing in the first round.
