Nick Kyrgios, Suspension Reduced: Sinner’s Rival Returns to the Court Already

Nick Kyrgios has been suspended for one month after testing positive for cocaine. The 31-year-old Australian tennis player will also be required to undergo a rehabilitation program. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) made the announcement, clarifying the circumstances of the violation and the duration of the suspension.

Kyrgios tested positive during the ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca, Spain, last June, and had been under a provisional suspension since August 4. For this type of violation, when the substance is taken out of competition, the standard sanction is three months. However, the ITIA decided to reduce it to one month, making the decision contingent on the player’s commitment to follow a specific treatment program. “Kyrgios has committed to doing so; consequently, the player’s suspension ends on September 3, 2026, subject to completion of the program,” the agency explained. The ruling also entails the revocation of the prize money and ranking points earned at the Mallorca tournament.

The Australian explained to anti-doping authorities that he had taken cocaine “in a social setting” during a night out before a scheduled match in Mallorca. To verify his account, the ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert from a laboratory accredited by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency). The analysis determined that Kyrgios’s explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in the sample.

“Consequently, the ITIA acknowledged that Kyrgios’s cocaine use occurred out of competition,” the agency stated. The incident represents the latest controversial chapter in a career marked by great achievements, controversies, injuries, and difficult moments. Kyrgios, a Wimbledon finalist in 2022 and winner of seven ATP singles titles, has long been considered one of the most unpredictable and spectacular talents on the tour. Standing 1.93 meters tall and possessing one of the most powerful serves in tennis, he is also one of the few players to have defeated all members of the “Big Four” (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray).