Nick Kyrgios is serving a provisional suspension from tennis after testing positive for cocaine, but how long could the Australian be banned for?
An anti-doping sample Kyrgios provided on 22 June 2026 was found to contain the presence of benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist provided the sample on the same day he lost to Adam Walton in the opening round of the ATP 250 event in Mallorca, which was his most recent singles match.
Kyrgios lost in the first round of the Wimbledon doubles event with Alexander Bublik the following week.
The 31-year-old then played three matches at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) exhibition in Rio de Janeiro last month.
In a statement, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) explained: “Cocaine is a stimulant and substance of abuse on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned in competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
“Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in place since 4 August 2026.”
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Kyrgios has the right to appeal the provisional suspension, but so far, he has chosen not to do this.
The former world No 13 could be banned for up to four years — which is the maximum penalty for failing an anti-doping test.
However, if Kyrgios can prove he took the substance outside of competition, the longest ban he could face is three months.
What has Nick Kyrgios said since testing positive for cocaine?
In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he “made a huge mistake” and issued an apology before vowing to “do the work and come back better.”
Here is Kyrgios’ full statement:
“I wanted you to hear this from me first,” Kyrgios wrote.
“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.
“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been. The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, 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.
“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis – tennis chose me. But 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. None of that excuses what I did.
“However, the good news is that this has given me a wake up call. For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.
“I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family. I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better.”
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