Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on June 22 that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
His provisional suspension took effect on August 4.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal the suspension but “has not done so to date”.
Kyrgios acknowledged the violation in a statement on Instagram, saying he had made “a huge mistake” and takes “full responsibility” for his actions.
Under the provisional suspension, Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slam tournaments or events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours until the case is resolved by a tribunal.
He could face a ban of up to four years. However, if he can establish that the cocaine was taken outside competition, the maximum sanction would be three months.
Cocaine is classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a stimulant and substance of abuse. Reduced sanctions can apply when an athlete tests positive for the substance outside competition.
Kyrgios’ sample was collected during the Mallorca Open, where he competed in singles before losing in the first round to Adam Walton.
The 31-year-old has played only four singles matches this season after struggling with knee and wrist injuries in recent years.
He last competed in men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he and Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
In his statement, Kyrgios said his recent injury problems had taken “a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically”.
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“My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do,” he wrote.
“Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did.”
Kyrgios said he would withdraw from social media and public life for 28 days to “focus on getting myself right”.
“I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors, and everyone close to me,” he added.
“Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”
Kyrgios has been a prominent and controversial figure in professional tennis. He has received several fines for on-court incidents, including racquet smashing, audible obscenities and disputes with umpires.
He has won seven ATP Tour singles titles and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
Kyrgios and fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis won the men’s doubles title at the 2022 Australian Open.
He has also spoken publicly about his mental health struggles, saying he “genuinely contemplated” suicide and spent time in a psychiatric hospital in London after his 2019 Wimbledon campaign.
