Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from the Tour after testing positive for a banned substance during the Mallorca Open earlier this year.

The former Wimbledon runner-up tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. It is listed as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the WADA Prohibited List, with players banned from taking it during competition. The penalty for those who test positive might be reduced if there is proof that they did so out of competition.

Kyrgios has been suspended from the Tour since August 4th and, so far, hasn’t appealed against the sanction, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

“While suspended, Kyrgios is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association,” the ITIA said in a statement.

Shortly after the announcement, former world No.13 Kyrgios posted a statement on Instagram in which he ‘takes full responsibility’ for what he describes as a ‘huge mistake.’ No details were given about when or where he took the substance. Mallorca was the second tournament he played in June and his fourth of 2026. At the 250 event, he lost in the first round to Adam Walton but won his opening doubles match before withdrawing from his next.

“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been,” Kyrgios wrote.

“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.”

The 31-year-old has previously spoken openly about dealing with depression, heavy substance and alcohol abuse, and self-harm during his career.

“The good news is that this has given me a wake up call,” he continued. “For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.”

source- instagram.com/k1ngkyrg1os

A critic of other cases

Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of other doping cases in the sport and once told reporters, ‘I can throw a racquet, but that’s nothing compared to cheating and taking performance-enhancing drugs.’ On multiple occasions, he has taken a swipe at authorities over their dealing with Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, who have both previously failed drug tests.

Sinner tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol. An independent panel concluded that he was inadvertently contaminated via a massage conducted by a member of his team. However, WADA appealed that verdict with the argument that Sinner has an element of responsibility, as he is in charge of making sure his team are following correct procedures. A case settlement was reached in which the Italian was banned for three months.

Swiatek was suspended for a month after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ). The Pole was able to provide evidence that the regulated melatonin tablets that she used for jet lag were contaminated with trace amounts of TMZ. This meant her level of fault was at the lowest end.

In both Sinner’s and Swiatek’s investigations, there was no suggestion of them intentionally taking a banned substance.

However, on the topic of recreational drugs (substances used to change how you feel or think) in tennis, Kyrgios previously said they should be allowed when speaking on the Nothing Major podcast.

Not the first time a player has tested positive for cocaine

Historically, there have been a handful of cases in tennis involving players who have tested positive for cocaine. Each case is unique and can’t be compared. Concerning Kyrgios, there has been no disclosure about the amount of benzoylecgonine in his system or the events around this time.

In 2017, Dan Evans was handed a 12-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine. However, the WADA rules have since changed. A three-month suspension for out of competition offences is now issued, and this could be reduced to one month should the athlete take part in an approved programme of rehabilitation.

Richard Gasquet also tested positive for the substance but successfully argued that his positive test was linked to kissing a girl in a nightclub who had consumed the drug. Meanwhile, Martina Hingis failed a drugs test after results showed trace amounts (42 ng/ml) of a cocaine breakdown product (benzoylecgonine). Hingis, who denied any wrongdoing, appealed but was unsuccessful as she couldn’t prove how the substance entered her body.

What next?

As previously mentioned with the rule changes following Dan Evans’ case, Kyrgios could experience a brief ban as long as he can prove he took the drug outside of competition. He has previously spoken about coming to the end of his career and nearing retirement amid his various injury setbacks. He has not commented on whether this suspension has changed his plans for the future.

Kyrgios, who has beaten every member of the Big Three, has won seven ATP titles and was runner-up at four others. His best Grand Slam performance was reaching the final of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships before losing to Novak Djokovic.