Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed that the athlete was handed a provisional suspension following a test at an accredited World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory in July, where he tested positive for cocaine from a sample during an ATP event in Spain.

In a statement, ITIA said “31-year-old Kyrgios provided a sample during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain, on 22 June 2026. On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.

“Cocaine is a stimulant and substance of abuse on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned in competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. If taken out of competition, reduced sanctions apply for substances of abuse.

It noted, “Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in place since 4 August 2026.”

The 31-year-old tennis star could face up to a four-year suspension, but could appeal the case to face a reduced suspension of three months.

According to the agency, he is not allowed to play,  coach or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association. 

Mr Kyrgios apologised to his family, friends, fans and sponsors in a lengthy statement posted on his Instagram feed, saying he made a huge mistake and takes full responsibility for his actions.

“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,” Mr Kyrgios said

“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 near 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 helpless and alone. None of that excuses what I did.”

He added, “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.”