Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, aged 31, disclosed on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine, leading to a provisional suspension from the sport of tennis. Kyrgios, an Australian player, had faced Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final but has since participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments due to a string of injuries, resulting in a current ranking of 919th.
Taking to social media, Kyrgios shared the details of the incident, admitting to failing a drug test in Mallorca for cocaine following a lower-tier tournament in June. In his statement, he acknowledged his error, stating, “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it.”
Cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance during competitive events, with potential lesser penalties when detected outside of competitions. Kyrgios, who has previously discussed his struggles with mental health exacerbated by substance abuse, including alcohol and drugs, expressed the challenges of accepting the nearing conclusion of his tennis career after battling injuries for the past two years.
“I’ve felt helpless and alone at times. None of that excuses what I did,” Kyrgios emphasized. Despite his recent participation in Wimbledon doubles with partner Alexander Bublik, where they were eliminated in the initial round, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, and the positive test results were verified on July 17, post his Wimbledon appearance.
A mandatory provisional suspension was enforced on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, as stated by the ITIA, which will oversee the case proceedings.