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The former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has been suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The 31-year-old Australian revealed on an Instagram post on Wednesday that he had “made a huge mistake” before his suspension was confirmed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) shortly afterwards.
Kyrgios tested positive while playing at an ATP 250 event in Mallorca in June, with the presence of cocaine in his system confirmed following tests at a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) laboratory last month.
Under ITIA regulations provisional suspensions are mandatory for positive tests for cocaine, although Kyrgios has the right of appeal.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Kyrgios apologised to his family, fans and sponsors and admitted he had no excuses, although added that his recent struggle with injuries had taken its toll on him mentally in addition to the physical strain.
“I wanted you to hear this from me first,” he wrote. “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. 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.
“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve 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.
“I’ve 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.
“However, the good news is that this has given me 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.”
In their statement the ITIA confirmed an unspecified provisional suspension for Kyrgios, with its length to be largely determined by whether the substance was taken in or out of competition.
In 2017 British No 1 Dan Evans was given a 12-month ban after testing positive for cocaine during the Barcelona Open, but Wada rules have since changed and stipulate a three-month suspension for out of competition offences.
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This ban can be reduced further to one month if the athlete agrees to undertake an approved programme of rehabilitation, the route taken by South Africa fast bowler Kasigo Rabada after he tested positive for cocaine last year.
“31-year-old Kyrgios provided a sample during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain, on 22 June 2026,” the ITIA statement read. “On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada)-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
“Cocaine is a stimulant and substance of abuse on the Wada Prohibited List and is banned in competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. If taken out of competition, reduced sanctions apply for substances of abuse.
“Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in place since 4 August 2026.”
Kyrgios has been a controversial figure throughout his career, which peaked with his 2022 Wimbledon final defeat to Novak Djokovic having previously achieved a highest world ranking of 13 in 2016.
In recent years injuries have restricted Kyrgios’s appearances and he has not played in a grand slam since the 2025 Australian Open, although he did take part in the controversial “Battle of the Sexes” against Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai last December.
