Suspension hits Nick Kyrgios in tennis for cocaine use; athlete says he is disappointed

Tennis player Nick Kyrgios, 31, received a provisional suspension after testing positive for cocaine. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) communicated the measure on August 19, 2026, indicating that the athlete presented “benzoylecgonine”, a metabolite of cocaine, in a sample taken during an ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca, in June. Subsequently, the Australian published a statement on his digital platforms addressing what happened.

Kyrgios’ suspension has been in effect since August 4, 2026, after the substance was confirmed by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory. Cocaine is listed as a stimulant and is part of the list of substances banned by the organization. The ITIA clarified that the Australian tennis player had the right to appeal the decision, but chose to accept the sanction. While suspended, Kyrgios is prevented from competing, training or participating in events promoted by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, Grand Slams or any national federation. There is the possibility of the penalty being reduced to one month if the athlete agrees to join an accredited rehabilitation program.

In a statement released on social media, Kyrgios stated that he will use this period to “focus on recovery”. The Australian athlete, who was at UTS Rio in July 2026 and was surpassed by Guto Miguel, mentioned mental exhaustion resulting from several injuries. He faced surgical interventions on his wrist and knee, participating in just ten matches since the beginning of 2023, which caused him to drop significantly in the world rankings. His last participation in a tournament was at Wimbledon, in early 2026, where he was eliminated in the first round alongside Alexander Bublik.

“I recently tested positive for cocaine in a drug test in Mallorca. I made a serious mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I apologize to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I apologize to the children who see me as an example to follow. I am aware of the example this represents and I am deeply disappointed in myself,” Kyrgios wrote in his statement.

He continued on the same note: “I’m not going to make excuses, but I want to put into context the situation I found myself in. The last two years, marked by injuries, have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body has not been able to keep up with the demands on my mind, and accepting that I am approaching the end of my career has been more difficult than I ever imagined.”

Former 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has never achieved a Grand Slam singles title. However, in doubles, he became champion of the Australian Open in the same year. The highest position the Australian reached in his career was 13th in the world rankings.

Nick Kyrgios’ full statement

In his full statement, Kyrgios began: “I wanted you to hear this directly from me. I recently tested positive for cocaine in a drug test in Mallorca. I made a serious mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I apologize to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I apologize to the children who see me as an example to follow. I am aware of the example this sets and I am deeply disappointed in myself.”

He continued, explaining the context: “I’m not going to make excuses, but I want to put into context the situation I found myself in. The last two years, marked by injuries, have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body has not been able to keep up with the demands on my mind, and accepting that I am approaching the end of my career has been more difficult than I ever imagined.”

“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis. Tennis chose me. But leaving behind something that was my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced. Sometimes I feel helpless and alone.”

The statement concluded: “None of this justifies what I did. However, the good news is that this served as a wake-up call for me. For the next 28 days, I will be taking a break from social media and public life to focus on my recovery and getting better. I ask everyone to respect my privacy at this time and, most importantly, my family’s privacy.”