Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios suspended after positive cocaine test

Nick Kyrgios, a prominent Australian tennis player, has been provisionally suspended from professional tennis following a positive cocaine test. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) provisionally suspended the former Wimbledon finalist on August 4, after a sample collected during a June tournament in Mallorca, Spain, tested positive last month for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

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I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.

Kyrgios, who has seen his ranking plummet to 919 due to injuries after once being ranked world number 13, admitted to making a "huge mistake" and taking "full responsibility" in a lengthy Instagram post. He apologized to his fans, family, and sponsors, expressing deep disappointment in himself and acknowledging the negative example he sets, particularly for young followers.

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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.

He provided context for his actions, explaining that the past few years of injuries have taken a significant physical and mental toll. Kyrgios described the difficulty of coming to terms with the potential end of his career, stating, "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." He stressed that these struggles do not excuse his positive drug test.

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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.

The 31-year-old announced he would be stepping away from social media and public life for a month to focus on his well-being. Kyrgios is known for his volatile on-court behavior, which has often made him a controversial figure in the sport. The ITIA stated that Kyrgios has the right to appeal his provisional suspension but has not yet done so. He is barred from participating in or coaching at any sanctioned tennis events until the suspension is lifted.

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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.