Tennis player Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, disclosed on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine and was provisionally banned from the sport.
The 31-year-old Australian, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, has participated in only two Grand Slam tournaments since then. Due to a series of injuries, his current ranking is 919th.
Kyrgios took to social media to share the details of the incident.
“Following a drug test in Mallorca, I recently tested positive for cocaine,” he stated, referring to a lower-level tournament in June. “I acknowledge my significant error and accept full responsibility for it.”
During competitions, cocaine is prohibited as a doping substance, and lesser penalties may be imposed if it is used outside of events.
In the past, Kyrgios has openly discussed his struggles with mental health, exacerbated by alcohol and drug misuse. He expressed the challenges of coming to terms with the potential conclusion of his career following two years of physical setbacks.
“There were moments where I felt powerless and isolated. However, none of that justifies my actions,” he admitted.
Recently, Kyrgios received a wild card to participate in the Wimbledon doubles event but was eliminated in the first round alongside his partner, Alexander Bublik.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will handle the case and confirmed that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive result verified on July 17, post his Wimbledon participation.
An interim suspension was enforced on August 4 as per regulations, and Kyrgios has not contested it, as per the ITIA.