Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, disclosed on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine, leading to his provisional suspension from the sport. Kyrgios, aged 31, faced Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final and has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Currently ranked 919th due to a string of injuries, Kyrgios took to social media to announce the drug test results.
In his statement, Kyrgios confessed to failing a drug test in Mallorca and testing positive for cocaine during a lower-tier tournament in June. He acknowledged his error, expressing full accountability for the situation. Cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance in competitive sports, with varying penalties based on the context of usage.
Kyrgios, who has openly discussed his mental health challenges exacerbated by substance abuse, admitted to struggles with the realization that his tennis career is nearing its end following a two-year period marred by injuries. Despite feeling isolated and overwhelmed at times, he emphasized that his personal difficulties do not justify his actions.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in the doubles event at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle Kyrgios’s case, revealing that his sample was collected on June 22 with the positive test confirmed on July 17, following his Wimbledon participation.
A mandatory provisional suspension was imposed on August 4, and Kyrgios has not contested this decision, as confirmed by the ITIA.
