London, August 19: The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has temporarily suspended Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios. The 31-year-old tested positive for a cocaine metabolite in June.
Kyrgios provided his sample on June 22 during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain. On July 17, a lab accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Cocaine is classified by WADA as a stimulant and a substance that can be abused. Under the tennis anti-doping program, its use is prohibited during competition. Athletes who test positive for this substance outside of competition face lesser penalties for abuse cases.
The ITIA stated, “Due to the nature of the substance, a temporary suspension is mandatory and has been in effect since August 4. Kyrgios, who reached a career-high ranking of 13th in October 2016, has the right to appeal the temporary suspension but has not done so yet.”
As a result of the suspension, Kyrgios is barred from participating in any events organized or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, Grand Slam, or any national association. He cannot coach or be involved in any capacity.
Acknowledging his violation of the rules, Kyrgios broke his silence in a statement on social media. Reflecting on recent challenges, the former Wimbledon finalist discussed the physical issues that have impacted his career.
He wrote on Instagram, “I made a big mistake, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my fans, family, sponsors, and loved ones. Most importantly, I apologize to the kids who look up to me. I know the example I set, and I am very disappointed in myself. I am not making excuses, but I want to share what I have been going through. Injuries over the past few years have taken a toll on me both physically and mentally. My body is not functioning as my mind wants it to, and accepting that I am nearing the end of my career has been much harder than I expected.”
“I have always said that I didn’t choose tennis—tennis chose me. But letting go of something that has defined my life has been one of the hardest things to do. At times, I have felt helpless and alone. These facts do not excuse my actions. However, the good thing is that this has given me a chance to understand and improve my situation.”
Kyrgios announced that he will step away from social media and public life for the next 28 days to focus on “healing.” He stated, “During this time, I will be away from social media and public life, focusing on healing. I ask people to respect my privacy during this period, and most importantly, my family’s privacy.”
The Australian player has only competed in four singles matches this season due to ongoing knee and wrist injuries. His last appearance was in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he and his partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
Kyrgios has won seven ATP Tour singles titles and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets. He and his partner Thanasi Kokkinakis won the Australian Open men’s doubles title together in 2022.
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