Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has accepted a one-month ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for cocaine. The ban, which began on August 4, allows Kyrgios to compete again starting Friday, September 5, 2026.
Mentioned in the notes was that Kyrgios failed a drugs test on June 22 at an ATP 250 tournament in Spain. During an interview with ITIA investigators, Kyrgios stated that his cocaine use occurred socially during a night out, days before he was scheduled to play in Mallorca. An independent scientific expert from a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory confirmed that this explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample. The ITIA accepted that Kyrgios's cocaine use was outside of competition.
Under WADA rules, the default suspension for such a breach is three months. However, this period can be reduced to one month if the individual commits to an ITIA-approved treatment program. Kyrgios opted to enter such a program, which led to the reduction of his ban.
Kyrgios forfeited the €6,570 (approximately $10,607) he won for losing in the first round of the Mallorca tournament to fellow Australian Adam Walton. The ITIA noted that Kyrgios, whose career-high ranking was 13th in the world, could have appealed his provisional suspension but chose not to.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Kyrgios apologized for his actions, calling it a "huge mistake" and taking full responsibility. He expressed remorse to his fans, family, sponsors, and particularly to the children who follow him, acknowledging the example his actions set.
Kyrgios, who has been hampered by knee and wrist injuries in recent years and has played only four official singles matches on the ATP Tour this year, indicated that these physical setbacks have taken a significant toll on him mentally and physically. He acknowledged the difficulty of coming to terms with being near the end of his career.
He stated that the positive test served as a "wake up call" and announced he would be stepping away from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on his recovery, requesting privacy for himself and his family during this period. He concluded by stating his intention to "do the work and come back better."
The ITIA confirmed that the positive test was for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, with the WADA laboratory confirming the result on July 17. The ban prohibited Kyrgios from participating in, coaching, or attending any sanctioned tennis tournaments worldwide and national-level events in Australia. Kyrgios's last competitive match was in the men's doubles at Wimbledon on July 2.