Nick Kyrgios provisionally suspended after positive cocaine test at Mallorca Open
The International Tennis Integrity Agency provisionally suspended Nick Kyrgios after the Australian tested positive for a cocaine metabolite at the Mallorca Open, leaving him facing a ban of up to four years.
Positive test and provisional suspension
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on 19 August 2026 that Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios was placed under a provisional suspension after testing positive for cocaine. The sample was collected on 22 June 2026 during the ATP 250 Mallorca Open in Spain. On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and is strictly banned during competition under WADA rules. The provisional ban took effect on 4 August 2026, and the ITIA noted that Kyrgios has not filed an appeal. While suspended, the 31-year-old cannot play, train, or attend Grand Slam events or any tournament sanctioned by the ATP or WTA tours.
- Kyrgios undergoes anti-doping test at Mallorca Open
- WADA-accredited laboratory detects benzoylecgonine in sample
- ITIA provisional suspension enters into force
- ITIA and Kyrgios announce positive cocaine test and provisional ban
Response to findings and injury struggles
Kyrgios confirmed the test result on social media, releasing a statement in which he acknowledged the finding and offered apologies to his family, supporters, sponsors, and young fans. He stated that he felt deeply disappointed in himself for setting a poor example.
I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it.
The Canberra native explained that physical difficulties and thoughts of retirement affected his mindset. After reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 13 and finishing as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022, Kyrgios sustained serious knee and wrist injuries. He has played only eight tournaments and won two matches since the beginning of 2023, causing his ATP ranking to drop to 919. Kyrgios stated that he felt helpless and alone at times during his rehabilitation, and he announced a 28-day absence from social media and public life to focus on his well-being.
Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.
Disciplinary background and tribunal outlook
The positive test adds to a history of disciplinary penalties across Kyrgios's professional career. At the 2015 Canadian Masters, the ATP fined him $10,000 for on-court comments directed at opponent Stan Wawrinka regarding Thanasi Kokkinakis. In a subsequent match at the Shanghai Masters against Mischa Zverev, Kyrgios received a $16,500 fine for lack of effort after asking the chair umpire to call time so he could leave the court. In 2018, he received an additional fine for an incident with a water bottle during his semifinal match against Djokovic at Queen's Club. Kyrgios now awaits a hearing before an independent tribunal, where he faces a suspension of up to four years under anti-doping regulations.
Previous criticisms of anti-doping rulings
The suspension follows Kyrgios's public criticisms of tennis anti-doping procedures, specifically regarding world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Sinner agreed to a three-month ban from February to May 2025 after testing positive for Clostebol, which WADA determined resulted from negligent contamination by an ointment used by his trainer. Kyrgios strongly opposed that settlement, describing it as unfair and claiming that other competitors would have received multi-year bans for similar offenses. Prior to his provisional suspension, Kyrgios made a brief return to competitive play at Wimbledon in July 2026, where he received a wild card in men's doubles alongside Alexander Bublik and lost in the first round.
