Australian Tennis Star Nick Kyrgios Banned Over Coc@ine Positive Test

Australian tennis sensation Nick Kyrgios has been handed a ban from the sport following a positive drug test. A sample he provided at an ATP tournament held in Majorca back in June revealed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite associated with coc@ine.

Kyrgios addressed the situation in a lengthy statement shared on his Instagram Stories, where he expressed regret to his friends and family. He took full responsibility for what he described as a "huge mistake." The athlete stated, "I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been. The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally." He also announced his intention to withdraw from social media and public engagements for the next 28 days.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed that the former world No. 13 has the right to appeal the decision, though he has not yet exercised this option. The ITIA clarified that "Coc@ine is a stimulant and substance of abuse on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned in competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. If taken out of competition, reduced sanctions apply for substances of abuse." They added that "Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in place since 4 August 2026."

Kyrgios is widely recognized as one of tennis's most prominent figures, having reached the Wimbledon final in 2022. He is currently ranked 919th globally. Last month, he participated in the Wimbledon doubles tournament as a wild card entry, partnering with Alexander Bublik, but they were eliminated in the first round.