Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has revealed that he has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The 31-year-old Australian shared a statement on Instagram about the failed drug test that took place during the Mallorca Open in June, explaining that he takes full responsibility for the "huge mistake" he made. Kyrgios, often labeled tennis' 'bad boy', also shared that he has "felt helpless and alone" in recent years as injuries have kept him off the court for the most part.
"I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me," Kyrgios wrote in an Instagram Story. "Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself.
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"I'm not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I've been. 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.
"I've always said I didn't choose tennis - tennis chose me. 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."
Kyrgios now faces a ban of up to four years after testing positive for the banned substance, although a lighter sanction is to be expected. British player Dan Evans tested positive for cocaine at the 2017 Barcelona Open and ultimately served a one-year suspension.
Kyrgios has not appealed the mandatory provisional suspension that was applied on Aug. 4. His positive test and suspension comes after he publicly slammed tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for failing doping tests in 2024.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency has said that Kyrgios' sample was taken on June 22, with the positive result not being confirmed until July 17, after Kyrgios lost an opening-round doubles match at Wimbledon.
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Kyrgios suffered a knee injury in October 2022 and played just once over the course of the next two years. He got back on the court in 2025, but posted a 1-4 record and was featured in just one Grand Slam, losing a first-round match at the Australian Open.
In December 2025, Kyrgios defeated four-time Grand Slam winner Aryna Sabalenka in a 'Battle of the Sexes' match held in Dubai.
