Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has revealed he is provisionally suspended from the sport following a positive cocaine test at the Mallorca Open in June. The 31-year-old athlete shared a statement on Instagram, taking responsibility for what he described as a "huge mistake."
Kyrgios stated that recent years have been challenging due to injuries that have largely kept him off the court. "I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me," Kyrgios wrote. "Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."
He explained that the cumulative effect of injuries has taken a significant toll, 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," he said. "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."
The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed that Kyrgios' sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result confirmed on July 17. The mandatory provisional suspension was applied on August 4, and Kyrgios has not appealed it.
Kyrgios now faces a potential ban of up to four years. For comparison, British player Dan Evans received a one-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine at the 2017 Barcelona Open.
This suspension follows a period of limited play for Kyrgios. He suffered a knee injury in October 2022 and played only once in the subsequent two years. He returned to competition in 2025, recording a 1-4 record and losing in the first round of the Australian Open.
In December 2025, Kyrgios participated in an exhibition match against Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai, which he won. Notably, Kyrgios had previously criticized fellow tennis players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for doping test failures in 2024.