Darryl Strawberry, a former MLB star and now a minister focused on recovery, has publicly defended tennis player Nick Kyrgios following his suspension for a positive cocaine test. Strawberry stated that it is "truly unfair" for the public to condemn athletes struggling with substance abuse, drawing parallels to his own experiences with addiction.
Kyrgios, 31, received a provisional suspension after testing positive for cocaine. The Australian player faces a potential ban of up to four years, depending on the circumstances of the usage. This suspension comes as Kyrgios has been navigating a challenging period in his career, marked by injuries that have significantly impacted his ranking and performance. He was once a Wimbledon finalist in 2022 but has since seen his world ranking drop dramatically.
In a statement shared after his suspension, Kyrgios described feeling "helpless and alone" due to his recurring injuries, which he said have taken a significant toll mentally and physically. He expressed that coming to terms with potentially nearing the end of his career has been more difficult than he ever imagined.
Strawberry, who himself faced multiple suspensions for substance abuse, including cocaine, during his 17-year MLB career, emphasized the need for support and healing. "Substance abuse is just something to escape from," Strawberry told TMZ. "You can be great as an athlete and have all the talent you want, but at the same time, when you’re broken on the inside, you need to be healed on the inside."
Now an author and pastor who has been in recovery for an extended period, Strawberry advocates for grace and understanding. "We’re not God and we shouldn’t play that," he said. "He just needs time. He just needs people to love him through the process. And that’s what it was for me, having people love me through the process and help me through the process. We all need help. You know, we all fall short."