Kyrgios given one-month ban for positive cocaine test

Sydney, September 4 — Australia's tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been granted permission to return to the sport following a one-month ban imposed for using cocaine and enrolling in a treatment program. The 31-year-old, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, tested positive for the drug during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) provisionally suspended Kyrgios on August 4, acknowledging his admission of a "huge mistake." The doping agency consulted an independent expert who confirmed that Kyrgios' explanation for the cocaine use was consistent with the evidence. According to WADA rules, a default suspension for this type of violation is three months, which can be reduced to one month if the player commits to a treatment program.

Kyrgios has now entered such a program, and his suspension is set to end on September 3, 2026, provided he completes the program. The prize money and ranking points earned from the Mallorca event will be forfeited. Kyrgios, known for his powerful serve and ground strokes, has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and reached a peak world ranking of 13 in 2016.

Currently ranked 918, he is still working to overcome a series of injuries that have hampered his progress. His best performance came at Wimbledon in 2022, where he reached the final before losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets. Despite his natural talent, Kyrgios has faced numerous setbacks, including a complete wrist reconstruction surgery in 2024.

Upon learning of his cocaine positive result, Kyrgios expressed remorse on Instagram, apologizing to his fans, family, sponsors, and especially to the young fans who look up to him. He admitted that he takes full responsibility for his actions and is deeply disappointed in himself.