Nick Kyrgios has accepted and served a reduced, one-month suspension under anti-doping rules after testing positive for cocaine at an ATP Tour event in Mallorca. Kyrgios, who had been provisionally suspended since August 4, had entered into a treatment programme approved by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to reduce the three-month default suspension under WADA rules. The Australian gave a sample at an ATP tournament in Majorca in June which tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The drug is banned in competition and the former Wimbledon finalist has been provisionally suspended since August 4, meaning he cannot play or attend tournaments. During an interview with ITIA investigators, the 31-year-old explained that his use of cocaine had "occurred socially" during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca, the statement said. The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory, who stated that the explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample.
"As a result, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios' use of cocaine was outside of competition," it added. The ITIA said Kyrgios' suspension ends on Thursday, subject to completion of the programme. Prize money and ranking points from the Mallorca event will be forfeited.
Cocaine is prohibited in-competition and carries a provisional suspension. Kyrgios apologised last month on social media for the failed drug test, saying he had made a "huge mistake" and took full responsibility for it. "I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it," Kyrgios said in a post on Instagram.
"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." His first-round loss to fellow Australian Adam Walton in Majorca was his last competitive singles outing and one of only four singles matches he has played this season.
Sky Sports Tennis' Annabel Croft described Kyrgios as a "tormented soul" who could now find himself on the receiving end of the very criticism he dished out when Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek were involved in high-profile doping cases. "He has always struck me as a tormented soul out there, and he is never far from creating headlines," Croft said. "He seems to do that effortlessly.
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