Nick Kyrgios Suspended from Tennis After Positive Cocaine Test at Mallorca Open

Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally banned from professional tennis after testing positive for cocaine, in one of the most high-profile doping cases the sport has seen in years.

The 31-year-old Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite produced when the body breaks down cocaine. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed the provisional suspension has been in effect since 4 August.

Kyrgios Takes "Full Responsibility"

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Kyrgios acknowledged the test result and said he made "a huge mistake." He wrote that recent years had taken "a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically," and that coming to terms with the possible end of his career had been harder than he anticipated.

"None of that excuses what I did," he added. He announced plans to step back from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on recovery.

Consequences and Next Steps

Under the provisional suspension, Kyrgios cannot play in, coach at, or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men's and women's tours. The ITIA confirmed he has not yet appealed the suspension.

Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. Reduced sanctions apply when athletes test positive for it out of competition, meaning the final penalty could be less severe than for in-competition use.

Kyrgios — who reached a career-high ranking of world number 13 — has played just four singles matches this season, having battled persistent knee and wrist injuries. He last appeared at Wimbledon in the men's doubles alongside Alexander Bublik, where they lost in the first round.