Nick Kyrgios, a former world number 13 tennis player, has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine during the Mallorca Open on June 22. The suspension is pending the outcome of a tribunal and prohibits Kyrgios from playing or attending Grand Slam events until then. In an Instagram post, Kyrgios took responsibility for his actions, saying he made a "huge mistake" and apologizing to fans, family, and sponsors. This is not the first time Kyrgios has been in controversy, having previously received fines for on-court behavior and admitting to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2023.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, 31, has been provisionally suspended from competing and coaching in tennis after testing positive for cocaine. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the suspension on August 4, saying that Kyrgios' sample was taken on June 22 at a lower-level tournament in Mallorca, and the positive test was confirmed on July 17. Kyrgios has apologized for his mistake, stating that he made a "huge error" and takes full responsibility for it. He has also announced that he will step away from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on his well-being.
The suspension means that Kyrgios cannot play or coach in any events sanctioned by the men's and women's tennis tours, including Grand Slam tournaments, until the outcome of a tribunal. The ITIA has said that Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension, but he has not done so to date.
Kyrgios' positive test for cocaine comes after he struggled with mental health issues in the past, including contemplating suicide and spending time in a psychiatric hospital in London after losing at Wimbledon in 2019. He has also spoken about the toll that injuries have taken on him, both mentally and physically, and how they have affected his career.
Kyrgios' ranking has dropped to 919th since he was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 singles final, and he has played just four singles matches this season due to knee and wrist injuries.
Written for “Nick Kyrgios Cocaine Test” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1208 · logged 2026-08-24
- Published
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
asserted
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.
asserted
that → submit → cocaine
Former world number 13 Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended, external since 4 August.
asserted
Kyrgios → suspend → August
The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension "but has not done so to date".
uncertain
Kyrgios → say → date
In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made "a huge mistake" and takes "full responsibility" for it.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
old → play → years
He last played in the men's doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
asserted
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".
asserted
years → say → me
"My body hasn't been able to do what my mind expects it to do," he wrote.
asserted
he → do → what
"Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.
"
asserted
I → come → career
None of that excuses what I did."
asserted
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".
asserted
myself → say → days
Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.
asserted
Cocaine → classify → list
Reduced sanctions apply for athletes who test positive for the substance out of competition.
asserted
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.
asserted
he → submit → Walton
"I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me," Kyrgios added.
asserted
Kyrgios → add → me
"Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me.
asserted
who → follow → me
I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."
asserted
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.
asserted
he → criticise → umpire
In 2023, he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend two years earlier.
asserted
he → admit → girlfriend
He avoided a criminal conviction.
asserted
He → avoid → conviction
He was criticised further for making a series of comments which have been considered misogynistic.
asserted
which → criticise → comments
In 2024 he shared a post from controversial influencer Andrew Tate.
asserted
he → share → Tate
He later said he had gone "to all lengths" to distance himself from the self-proclaimed misogynist.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
Kyrgios → win → Djokovic
He and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis won the Australian Open men's doubles title together in 2022.
asserted
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.
asserted
he → speak → 2019
