Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, disclosed on Wednesday that he tested positive for cocaine, leading to a provisional suspension from tennis.
The 31-year-old Australian, who was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Following a series of injuries, his current ranking stands at 919th.
Kyrgios took to social media to share information about the incident.
In his statement, he admitted, “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. I acknowledge my significant error and accept full responsibility for it.”
Cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, with varying penalties applicable when used outside of official events.
Kyrgios has openly discussed his challenges with mental health in the past, which were exacerbated by alcohol and drug usage. He expressed the difficulty of accepting the nearing end of his career due to two years of injury setbacks.
“There were moments when I felt powerless and isolated. However, none of that justifies my actions,” he emphasized.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to participate in the Wimbledon doubles event, where he and partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the initial round.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case and stated that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result confirmed on July 17, post his Wimbledon appearance.
An obligatory provisional suspension was enforced on August 4 and remains unchallenged by Kyrgios, as confirmed by the ITIA.