Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, admitted on Wednesday to testing positive for cocaine, leading to his provisional suspension from the sport. Kyrgios, 31 years old, faced Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final but has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then due to various injuries, causing his current ranking to drop to 919th.
In a candid social media post, Kyrgios disclosed the details of his failed drug test in Mallorca, where he tested positive for cocaine during a lower-level tournament in June. He acknowledged his mistake, taking full responsibility for the situation. Cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, with potential repercussions even when used outside of events.
Having previously shared his struggles with mental health, worsened by alcohol and drug consumption, Kyrgios expressed the challenges of accepting the potential end of his career following two injury-ridden years. Despite feeling helpless and isolated at times, he emphasized that these factors do not excuse his actions.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in the doubles event at Wimbledon, partnering with Alexander Bublik but exiting in the first round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle his case, confirming that his sample was obtained on June 22 and the positive test was verified on July 17, post his Wimbledon appearance.
A mandatory provisional suspension was imposed on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested, according to the ITIA.