Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios announced his cocaine positive test results on Wednesday, leading to his provisional suspension from tennis. The 31-year-old Australian, who faced Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments following a string of injuries, resulting in his current ranking at 919th place. Kyrgios took to social media to disclose the incident, admitting to failing a drug test for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in Mallorca in June and expressing full accountability for his actions.
The use of cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitive events, with potential lighter penalties if used outside of competitions. Kyrgios, who has previously opened up about struggles with mental health exacerbated by substance abuse, acknowledged the challenges of accepting the nearing end of his career due to injuries over the past two years. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, he emphasized that it does not justify his misconduct.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wildcard entry to compete in the Wimbledon doubles event alongside Alexander Bublik, where they were eliminated in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case, revealing that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22 and the positive test was confirmed on July 17, post his Wimbledon appearance. A mandatory provisional suspension was imposed on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, as confirmed by the ITIA.