Nick Kyrgios learns his fate after cocaine suspension with ban issued
ATPFriday, 04 September 2026 at 02:30
The ITIA have confirmed the fate of Nick Kyrgios after he was suspended for cocaine use last month and he has accepted a one-month suspension under the tennis anti doping rules.
The 31-year-old who reached a career high ranking of 13 in October 2016, tested positive for cocaine at an ATP Tour event in Mallorca in June 2026. Cocaine is prohibited in competition and carries a provisional suspension, he had been provisionally suspended for around a month since 4 August 2026.
Kyrgios explained that his use of cocaine had occurred during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca. The ITIA spoke with the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) accredited laboratory, who stated that the explanation was consistent with the level found in his sample. As a result, the ITIA accepted that the use of cocaine was outside competition.
Kyrgios ban is already up
The default suspension is three months which can be reduced to one month if the the individual commits to the treatment programme approved by the ITIA. Kyrgios has entered into a treatment programme. The players suspension as a result ended on 3 September 2026 subject to completion of the programme.
He had issued a statement at the time aiming to pin his colours to the mast about the suspension especially given his criticism about other players in the past and their bans.
“I wanted you to hear this from me first,” said Kyrgios on Instagram. "I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.
“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.
Kyrgios ban is already up.
“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. My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being nearer the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.
“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis – tennis chose me. But letting go of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. At times I’ve felt hopeless and alone.
“None of that excuses what I did. However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call. For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.
“I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family. I’m sorry, I’ll do the work and come back better. Nick.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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