Nick Kyrgios is free to play tennis again after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reduced his suspension for cocaine use to one month. The 31-year-old Australian has entered a treatment program and is eligible to compete from Friday, following a provisional suspension that began on 4 August.
Ban reduced after ITIA accepts explanation
Kyrgios tested positive for cocaine on 22 June at an ATP 250 tournament in Spain. The ITIA accepted that his use of cocaine occurred socially during a night out in Mallorca, days before he was due to play, and was therefore outside of competition. The agency consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada)-accredited laboratory, who stated that the explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample.
Under Wada rules, the default suspension for such a breach is three months, but this can be reduced to one month if the individual commits to a treatment program approved by the ITIA. Kyrgios agreed to enter such a program, leading to the reduced ban.
Kyrgios admits 'huge mistake'
Kyrgios, who had faced a ban ranging from a baseline three-month period to up to four years, admitted his “huge mistake” in a social media post last month. “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” he wrote on Instagram. “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.”
Financial and career impact
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist also forfeited the 6,570 euros he won in Mallorca for losing in the first round to countryman Adam Walton. His career world ranking peaked at No 13, but he has played only four official singles matches on the elite ATP Tour this year, battling knee and wrist injuries in recent years.
The ITIA said Kyrgios was suspended for a positive test for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, with a Wada laboratory confirming the positive result on 17 July. He was banned from playing, coaching or attending any tournaments sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours worldwide and national-level events in Australia. Kyrgios last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon on 2 July, when he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
