Nick Kyrgios Suspended Provisionally for Cocaine, Admits Mistake
The Australian tennis player has been provisionally banned from all tournaments after a sample taken in June tested positive for a cocaine metabolite.
The Australian tennis player has been provisionally banned from all tournaments after a sample taken in June tested positive for a cocaine metabolite.
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) following a positive test for cocaine, as reported by Index.hr on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
According to BBC Sport, the 31-year-old Kyrgios provided a sample on June 22, 2026, during the Mallorca Open. Subsequent analysis revealed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
The ITIA imposed the provisional suspension on August 4, 2026, and Kyrgios has not appealed the decision to date, despite having the option to do so, according to BBC Sport. The ITIA stated that Kyrgios can appeal the ruling but has not yet exercised that right.
According to the official ITIA statement, the sample was analyzed on July 17, 2026, by a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine. Cocaine is a stimulant and a substance of abuse on WADA's prohibited list, and due to the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory. If taken out of competition, reduced sanctions apply for substances of abuse.
The tennis player himself also spoke out on Instagram, writing that he made a "big mistake" and takes "full responsibility" for it, as reported by BBC Sport. In his Instagram post, Kyrgios wrote: "I wanted you to hear this from me first. 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 apologize 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 what kind of example this sets, and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."
Kyrgios also added context about his recent years: "The last few years have been really tough on me, both physically and mentally. My body couldn't do what my mind expected, and coming to terms with being close to the end of my career was 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. Sometimes I felt helpless and lonely. None of that justifies what I did. However, the good news is that this has been a wake-up call. For the next 28 days, I'll step away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself in order. I'd ask people to respect my privacy during this time, and most importantly-the privacy of my family. I'm sorry. I'll do what I need to do and come back better."
The suspension means Kyrgios cannot play, train, or attend Grand Slam tournaments or any events under the umbrella of the men's and women's tennis tours.
The former world No. 13 has played only four singles matches this season, having struggled with knee and wrist injuries in recent years. His last appearance was in the men's doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the first round.
Kyrgios achieved his career-best ranking of world No. 13 in October 2016. He is known as the Wimbledon finalist in 2022 and one of the most talented yet controversial players of his generation, recognizable for frequent scandals, racket smashing, heated arguments with umpires and crowds, and provocations of opponents.
The news of the suspension comes ahead of the US Open, which takes place from August 30 to September 13, 2026, in New York. Le Figaro notes that the participation of world No. 1, Italian Jannik Sinner, is also in question due to knee issues.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Frenchwoman Loïs Boisson advanced to the third round after Swiss player Belinda Bencic retired, joining her compatriot Diane Parry. Le Figaro also reports that Roger Federer has lost his billionaire status due to a drop in the share value of the Swiss brand On.
