Kyrgios given one-month ban for positive cocaine test

Nick Kyrgios, the 31‑year‑old Australian who has slipped to No. 918 in the world rankings, will be eligible to return to competition after accepting a one‑month ban for testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, from a sample taken at the Mallorca Open in June. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) provisionally suspended him on 4 August; Kyrgios told investigators he used cocaine at a Magaluf nightclub in the early hours of 20 June, two days before he lost his first‑round match to compatriot Adam Walton. After consulting an independent expert, the ITIA concluded the drug use occurred outside competition, allowing the sanction to be reduced from a possible three‑month ban. In addition to the month‑long suspension, Kyrgios forfeits €6,570 in prize money and must complete a treatment programme that began on 28 August.

The ban reflects both the ITIA’s assessment of the timing of the drug use and Kyrgios’s cooperation in entering a rehabilitation programme, which the agency considered mitigating. The decision aligns Kyrgios’s penalty with that imposed on Iga Swiatek, though it is two months shorter than the sanction given to Jannik Sinner for separate anti‑doping violations. Kyrgios’s statement following the suspension emphasized his intent to step away from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on his wellbeing, underscoring the mental and physical toll of recurring injuries and a career that has struggled to regain its former momentum after a Wimbledon final appearance in 2022.

Kyrgios’s return comes amid ongoing scrutiny of his on‑court conduct and off‑court controversies, including past fines for racket smashing, verbal outbursts, and a 2023 admission of assaulting an ex‑girlfriend. He has also faced criticism for misogynistic remarks and for sharing content from influencer Andrew Tate, though he later claimed to have distanced himself from the figure. The brief suspension allows him to compete immediately, but his recent record—only two wins in eight matches since the start of 2023 and limited singles play due to knee and wrist surgeries—suggests a challenging path ahead as he seeks to rebuild his standing in professional tennis.

⚡ Effects Interpreter