Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has accepted a reduced one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine at an ATP tournament in Mallorca, Spain, in June. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the decision this week.
Kyrgios, 31, provided a sample at the tournament that tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. He was provisionally suspended on August 4, preventing him from competing or attending official tennis events during the suspension.
According to the ITIA, Kyrgios told investigators that his cocaine use happened socially during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca. An independent expert from a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory found that the level detected in his sample was consistent with his explanation. The ITIA therefore accepted that the use occurred outside competition.
Under the applicable anti-doping rules, the violation would normally result in a three-month suspension. However, Kyrgios entered an ITIA-approved treatment programme, allowing the suspension to be reduced to one month.
Kyrgios has now completed the suspension and is eligible to return to competitive tennis from September 4, provided he completes the treatment programme. However, he will lose the €6,570 prize money and ranking points he earned at the Mallorca tournament.
The former world No. 13 has struggled with injuries and limited competitive appearances in recent years. His return will therefore depend not only on his eligibility but also on his fitness and match readiness.
Why it matters
The case highlights the difference between in-competition and out-of-competition drug use under tennis anti-doping rules, while also putting attention on the use of treatment programmes as part of disciplinary measures.
