Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, disclosed on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine, resulting in 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 events following a string of injuries, leading to his current ranking of 919th. Kyrgios took to social media to share the details of the incident, admitting to failing a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine at a lower-level tournament in June. He acknowledged his mistake, stating, “I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it.”
The use of cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance during competitions, with varying sanctions applicable when used outside of events. Kyrgios has previously spoken about his struggles with mental health, which were exacerbated by alcohol and drug usage. He expressed the challenges of accepting the potential end of his career after battling injuries for two years, admitting to feeling helpless and alone at times but emphasizing that it does not excuse his actions.
Despite his recent struggles, Kyrgios received a wild card to compete in the doubles event at Wimbledon last month, where he and his partner, Alexander Bublik, were eliminated in the first round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case, noting that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, and the positive test results were confirmed 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.