Nick Kyrgios clears one-month ban for cocaine after completing treatment programme

Reduced sanction and clearance

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios is eligible to return to competition after completing a one-month suspension for a positive cocaine test. The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed that the 31-year-old submitted a sample containing benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, at the Mallorca Championships in June. Under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations, cocaine is classified as a prohibited stimulant and substance of abuse during competition, carrying a default three-month sanction for out-of-competition ingestion. Kyrgios secured a reduced one-month term by agreeing to enter an agency-approved treatment programme. His suspension, which took effect provisionally on 4 August, concluded on 3 September subject to completing the required medical course.

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.

Investigation and tournament penalties

The ITIA accepted that Kyrgios consumed the substance socially before his first match at the ATP 250 grass-court tournament in Spain. An independent scientific expert at a WADA-accredited laboratory examined the sample and concluded that the detected metabolite levels were consistent with out-of-competition use. Had investigators concluded that the substance was taken in competition, Kyrgios faced a possible ban of up to four years. Kyrgios chose not to appeal the provisional suspension. Under the terms of the ruling, he forfeits the 6,570 euros in prize money and all ATP ranking points from Mallorca, where he lost in the opening round to Adam Walton.

Statements and career toll

Kyrgios addressed the positive test on social media in August, describing the episode as a huge mistake and announcing a 28-day hiatus from public appearances. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who lost the championship match in four sets to Novak Djokovic, noted that ongoing physical setbacks had affected his well-being. Persistent knee and wrist injuries limited him to four singles matches during the 2026 season, winning only once on the ATP Tour. These extended absences caused his singles world ranking to drop to 918 from a career-high mark of 13. He last appeared on court in the Wimbledon men's doubles draw with Alexander Bublik, suffering an opening-round loss.

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.

Background and anti-doping controversy

The sanction follows earlier controversies surrounding Kyrgios's comments on anti-doping enforcement in professional tennis. Kyrgios had publicly criticized the handling of cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek, calling the reduced bans resulting from accidental contamination disgusting for the sport. Sinner had received a three-month ban following two positive tests for clostebol, while Świątek accepted a reduced penalty for trimetazidine. Off the court, Kyrgios previously faced scrutiny in 2023 when he admitted to assaulting a former partner without receiving a criminal conviction, and in 2024 after sharing a post by online personality Andrew Tate. With his suspension now concluded, Kyrgios is cleared to resume tournament play.