Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from professional tennis after a doping sample he provided tested positive for a cocaine metabolite, the International Tennis Integrity Agency has confirmed. The suspension took effect on 4 August 2026, following a sample the Australian gave during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine. Kyrgios has not filed an appeal against the suspension as of the latest update from the ITIA.
The governing body stated that Kyrgios retains the right to challenge the decision but confirmed no such action had been taken. Under the terms of the suspension, he is barred from competing, coaching or even attending Grand Slam tournaments and other events sanctioned by the men's and women's professional tours, as well as those run by national tennis associations, according to Fox Sports Australia.
The ITIA said in its statement that Kyrgios provided the sample during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain, on 22 June 2026, and that a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, on 17 July 2026.
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. Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in place since 4 August 2026.
What did Kyrgios say about the positive test?
Kyrgios addressed the situation directly in a post on Instagram, acknowledging the error and accepting the consequences.
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.
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... For the next 28 days, I'll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.
According to a Danish news outlet, several other media organisations reported the same Instagram statement on 19 August 2026, in which Kyrgios repeated that he had made a serious error and was taking full responsibility for it.
How has Kyrgios's season gone so far?
The 31-year-old former world number 13 has had a difficult run in 2026, managing only four singles matches all season because of ongoing knee and wrist problems, winning one and losing three. He returned to the game in June, recording his first singles victory in 15 months with a straight-sets win over Corentin Moutet at a tournament in Stuttgart, a result that had briefly renewed optimism about his comeback despite years of injury setbacks. His most recent appearance came at Wimbledon, where he and doubles partner Alexander Bublik were eliminated in the first round. He has not played in a Grand Slam singles main draw since the 2025 Australian Open, though he did take part in the widely discussed "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition event.
How does this case compare with other doping matters in tennis?
The provisional suspension places Kyrgios among a string of high-profile tennis anti-doping matters handled by the ITIA this year. Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was recently banned for four years after refusing an out-of-competition test, a decision the tribunal reached after finding no adequate justification for her refusal, a case whose detailed ruling was later contrasted with the secrecy around a footballer's shortened suspension. In another previous case cited in ITIA documentation, Jannik Sinner proceeded to a full tribunal hearing after an earlier provisional suspension, illustrating the typical next stage in the agency's disciplinary process, according to ITIA case documentation. Kyrgios himself has previously been outspoken about that case, criticising the length of Sinner's ban and arguing that fairness in tennis "doesn't exist," according to a British sports broadcaster's report. A separate precedent involves British No 1 Dan Evans, who received a 12-month ban in 2017 after testing positive for cocaine at the Barcelona Open, a case that offers a historical benchmark for how the sport has sanctioned the same substance.
What happens next in the case?
Under the ITIA's 2026 anti-doping programme, a player facing a provisional suspension is entitled to request an expedited appeal, though the suspension remains active while any such appeal is pending, according to the official anti-doping programme document. The agency's investigation procedures further specify that a player has up to 10 business days from notification to lodge that appeal, per the ITIA's investigation process guidelines. No appeal had been filed as of the announcement, according to Fox Sports Australia. Should the case proceed to a final merits decision, either party would retain the right to escalate the matter further to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as outlined in the same anti-doping programme document.
Key Facts
- Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis since 4 August 2026.
- The positive sample was collected at the Mallorca Open on 22 June 2026 and contained benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, confirmed by a WADA-accredited laboratory on 17 July 2026.
- He has played only four singles matches this season, winning one and losing three.
- No appeal against the suspension had been filed as of the latest ITIA update.
- Players have up to 10 business days to request an expedited appeal under ITIA rules.
