Nick Kyrgios Suspended After Positive Cocaine Test

Tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been issued a mandatory provisional suspension after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine at the Mallorca Open in June. Kyrgios stated on social media that the incident was a huge mistake and that he takes full responsibility. He attributed the struggle to the mental toll of recent knee and wrist injuries and the difficulty of coming to terms with the end of his career.

Kyrgios faces a potential ban of up to four years. However, the suspension could be limited to a maximum of three months if he can prove the drug was taken out of competition. The current world number 919 has struggled with injuries since the start of 2023, winning only two matches in eight tournaments.

This incident follows a career marked by both athletic success and disciplinary issues. Kyrgios reached the Wimbledon final eight years after his 2014 debut, but he has also faced multiple bans for verbal abuse of officials and spectators. He has previously spoken about struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, mental health challenges, and a period of self harm. In 2023, he admitted to assaulting an ex girlfriend during a row in Canberra. He has also publicly distanced himself from influencer Andrew Tate.