Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended after an in-competition test detected benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, during an ATP tournament in Mallorca.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency said the sample was collected on 22 June and the finding was later confirmed by a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory. The provisional suspension took effect on 4 August.
Case awaits final determination
Kyrgios is barred from playing in or attending professional tennis events while the case proceeds. He has the right to appeal the provisional measure but had not done so when the suspension was announced.
The 31-year-old acknowledged the positive test publicly, accepted responsibility and apologised to his family, fans, sponsors and younger followers. He said persistent injury problems and the emotional strain surrounding his career contributed to a difficult period, while making clear that they did not excuse his conduct.
The eventual sanction will depend on the circumstances determined by the anti-doping process, including whether the substance was used outside competition and without an intention to enhance performance. Cocaine is classed as a prohibited stimulant and a substance of abuse under anti-doping rules, which provide different outcomes depending on use, timing and participation in treatment.
Kyrgios reached the Wimbledon final in 2022 and a career-high ranking of No. 13, but wrist and knee injuries have sharply limited his appearances since 2023.