Nick Kyrgios has accepted and completed a reduced one-month suspension under anti-doping regulations following a positive test for cocaine at an ATP Tour event in Mallorca. The Australian had been provisionally suspended since August 4 and entered into a treatment programme approved by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to reduce the three-month default suspension mandated under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Kyrgios provided a sample at an ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca on 22 June, which tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. According to the ITIA, a WADA-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine on 17 July. The substance is prohibited during competition, and the 31-year-old former Wimbledon finalist was unable to play or attend tournaments while provisionally suspended.
During his interview with ITIA investigators, Kyrgios explained that his cocaine use
occurred socially during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca, according to the statement. The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a WADA-accredited laboratory, who confirmed that this explanation aligned with the concentration of cocaine detected in his sample.
As a result, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios' use of cocaine was outside of competition, the agency said. According to BBC reporting, Kyrgios's one-month ban ended on Thursday, 3 September, making him eligible to return to tennis immediately. Prize money and ranking points from the Mallorca event have been forfeited.
Kyrgios issued a public apology last month on social media for the failed drug test.
I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it, he wrote on Instagram.
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.
According to the BBC, Kyrgios said he would spend the next 28 days stepping away from social media and public life to focus on getting himself right. The ITIA confirmed that support is available to Kyrgios during his suspension period.
His first-round loss to fellow Australian Adam Walton in Mallorca marked his last competitive singles match and one of only four singles matches he has played this season. According to BBC Sport, Kyrgios has fallen to No. 918 in the world rankings as a result of his absence from competition.
Criticism and comparison to other cases
Sky Sports Tennis commentator Annabel Croft described Kyrgios as a
tormented soulwho now finds himself on the receiving end of the very criticism he directed at other players involved in high-profile doping cases.
He has always struck me as a tormented soul out there, and he is never far from creating headlines, Croft said.
He seems to do that effortlessly.
There is a lot of criticism being thrown at him right now because he was the one firing arrows at other players who had been banned for a certain amount of time. It is now being directed right back at him.
Finding balance off the court
Former world No. 40 Ryan Harrison expressed disappointment at the situation and believes Kyrgios must strike the right balance between his responsibilities on court and his personal life away from tennis.
It is disappointing, Harrison said.
Kyrgios has been such an electric player for so long.
He is one of those guys. You talk about the 'Big Four', and he was the next in line that the casual fan and observer would talk about because of the way he played, his talent, fearlessness and energy.
The persona would come out sometimes in the way he handled pressure. Sometimes it wasn't always positive.
Harrison outlined the challenges athletes face when their structured training schedules change.
When you are an athlete and training on a regular basis, your life is very structured and regimented, he explained.
When you stop playing and you are not doing that on a week-to-week basis, some players can find it difficult to strike a balance and know, 'When can I go out?'
I think Nick needs to find that balance and, while it is disappointing, hopefully for his sake, as he takes time away, he can find happiness off the court and be the best he can be.
What happens next
Kyrgios is now free to compete again from 3 September 2026, with his one-month ban having concluded. The Australian will need to rebuild his ranking from No. 918 as he attempts to return to competitive tennis. The US Open begins on 30 August, and the Laver Cup takes place at The O2 in London from 25-27 September, both available on Sky Sports.
