Nick Kyrgios Accepts One-Month Ban After Positive Cocaine Test
Nick Kyrgios has entered a treatment program and accepted a one‑month ban after testing positive for cocaine, in the latest dramatic turn in one of tennis’s most turbulent careers.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who had been provisionally suspended since August 4, will be eligible to return to competition on Friday after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reduced his sanction from the standard three months.
A Night Out, A Positive Test
Kyrgios failed a drugs test on June 22 at an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, where he lost in the first round to fellow Australian Adam Walton and later forfeited the €6,570 prize money.
In an interview with ITIA investigators, the 31-year-old explained that his cocaine use had been recreational, during a night out in the days leading up to the tournament. An independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory supported that account, stating the levels found were consistent with out-of-competition use.
The ITIA accepted that explanation and classified the offence accordingly. Under WADA rules, the default suspension for this type of breach is three months, but it can be cut to one if the player commits to an approved treatment program.
Kyrgios took that option. He did not appeal against the provisional suspension, choosing instead to draw a line under the process and seek help.
“I Made a Huge Mistake”
The Australian did not try to hide from the fallout. In a candid Instagram post last month, he addressed the failed test directly.
“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” he wrote. “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.
“I’m sorry 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 the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”
The ITIA later confirmed that Kyrgios had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, with the WADA laboratory validating the result on July 17. The sanction barred him from playing, coaching or even attending any tournaments sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tours worldwide, as well as national-level events in Australia.
His last appearance before the ban came in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon on July 2, when he and Alexander Bublik lost in the opening round.
A Career Near Its End
Behind the headlines, Kyrgios painted a bleak picture of a body and mind worn down by years of strain. He has played only four official singles matches on the ATP Tour this year, his progress repeatedly stalled by knee and wrist injuries.
“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been,” he wrote.
“The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.”
For a player who once reached No. 13 in the world and lit up Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the admission felt stark. He has all but conceded his days as a singles force are over.
“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis — tennis chose me,” he continued. “But letting go of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. At times I’ve felt helpless and alone.
“None of that excuses what I did.”
A Wake-Up Call
The ban, and the public reckoning that followed, has become a line in the sand.
Kyrgios described the positive test as “a wake up call” and confirmed he would step away from the spotlight to focus on treatment.
“For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right,” he wrote. “I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family.
“I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better.”
The words carry a familiar Kyrgios tension: defiance replaced, at least for now, by vulnerability and a promise to fight his way back. The ban is short. The road ahead, on and off the court, is anything but.
