- Published
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
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Kyrgios → publish → cocaine
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
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that → submit → cocaine
Former world number 13 Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended, external since 4 August.
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Kyrgios → suspend → August
The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension "but has not done so to date".
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Kyrgios → say → date
In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made "a huge mistake" and takes "full responsibility" for it.
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he → say → it
Under the suspension, Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men's and women's tennis tours pending the outcome of a tribunal.
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Kyrgios → play → tribunal
The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with knee and wrist injuries in recent years.
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old → play → years
He last played in the men's doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
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he → play → round
In a lengthy statement on Instagram, Kyrgios said the last few years of injuries had taken "a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically".
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years → say → me
"My body hasn't been able to do what my mind expects it to do," he wrote.
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he → do → what
"Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.
"
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I → come → career
None of that excuses what I did."
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I → excuse → what
Kyrgios said he would be stepping away from social media and public life for the next 28 days to "focus on getting myself right".
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myself → say → days
Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.
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Cocaine → classify → list
Reduced sanctions apply for athletes who test positive for the substance out of competition.
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who → reduce → competition
However, Kyrgios' sample was submitted during a tournament in which he played singles, ultimately losing in the first round to Adam Walton.
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he → submit → Walton
"I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me," Kyrgios added.
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Kyrgios → add → me
"Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me.
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who → follow → me
I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."
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I → know → myself
His behaviour on court has been widely criticised and he has been given numerous large fines for smashing racquets, making audible obscenities and arguing with the umpire.
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he → criticise → umpire
In 2023, he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend two years earlier.
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he → admit → girlfriend
He avoided a criminal conviction.
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He → avoid → conviction
He was criticised further for making a series of comments which have been considered misogynistic.
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which → criticise → comments
In 2024 he shared a post from controversial influencer Andrew Tate.
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he → share → Tate
He later said he had gone "to all lengths" to distance himself from the self-proclaimed misogynist.
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he → say → misogynist
Kyrgios was also critical of the handling of two high-profile anti-doping cases involving top players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, calling them "disgusting" for tennis.
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Kyrgios → involve → tennis
Kyrgios has won seven ATP Tour singles titles and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic.
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Kyrgios → win → Djokovic
He and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis won the Australian Open men's doubles title together in 2022.
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He → win → 2022
Kyrgios has also spoken about his struggles with mental health, saying he "genuinely contemplated" suicide and spent time in a psychiatric hospital in London after losing at Wimbledon in 2019.
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he → speak → 2019
The Aporia
