Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, disclosed his positive cocaine test leading to a provisional suspension from the sport. Despite reaching the 2022 singles final, he has participated in only two Grand Slam events since. Currently ranked 919th due to multiple injuries, Kyrgios shared the drug test failure on social media, admitting to testing positive for cocaine during a lower-tier tournament in June and taking full responsibility for the error.
Cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance during competitions, with potential lighter penalties for off-event usage. Kyrgios, who has openly discussed mental health challenges exacerbated by alcohol and substance abuse, expressed the struggles of accepting the potential conclusion of his tennis career following a lengthy period of injuries. Despite feeling isolated and overwhelmed at times, he acknowledged the lack of justification for his actions.
Recently granted a wild card to compete in the Wimbledon doubles event alongside Alexander Bublik, Kyrgios and his partner exited the tournament in the opening round. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) will oversee the case, revealing that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with the positive test confirmed on July 17 post his Wimbledon participation. An immediate provisional suspension was imposed on August 4, unchallenged by Kyrgios as confirmed by the ITIA.