Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has been cleared to return to tennis after accepting a one-month ban for using cocaine and entering a treatment programme.
The 31-year-old failed a doping test during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22.
He was provisionally suspended on August 4 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), admitting he made “a huge mistake”.
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The suspension could have barred him from playing for up to four years.
But in a statement on Friday, the doping agency said Kyrgios had explained his use of the drug occurred socially during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca. found his explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample.
The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory, who
“As a result, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios’ use of cocaine was outside of competition,” the ITIA said.
Under WADA rules, the default suspension for a breach of this type is three months, which can be reduced to one month if an individual commits to a treatment programme, which the ITIA confirmed Kyrgios has done.
“As such, the player’s suspension will end on September 3, 2026, subject to completion of the programme,” a statement reads.
“ Prize-money and ranking points from the Mallorca event will be forfeited.”
The news comes after several tennis colleagues ripped into the Australian over the positive test.
Having been a vocal critic of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s brief suspension over a controversial doping violation, veteran Karen Khachanov said he would have to “reap what you sow”; while old foe Stefanos Tsitsipas said he wasn’t surprised by the revelation.
“I knew about all this before, and the announcement was made, and when I saw it on social media I was like “here we go”,” Tsitsipas told reporters at the US Open.
“I kind of expected it, to be honest.
“I knew those were things that were happening away from the tennis court, I’ll tell you that. I’m not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for.”
The sanction clears the way for an unlikely return to the Australian Open, where he has featured just once in the singles draw since 2022.
Tsitsipas speaks on Kyrgios cocaine use | 01:20
Kyrgios has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a high of 13 in the world in 2016. He is now ranked 918.
His finest performance was on the grass at Wimbledon in 2022, when he reached the championship match, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic.
Despite his natural talents that is as good as it got, with a series of injuries taking their toll.
He has had numerous surgeries, the most serious a complete reconstruction of his right wrist in 2024.
The Australian last played as a wildcard entry in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon in July this year, when he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
Kyrgios was contrite when the news of his cocaine use emerged last month.
“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” he posted on Instagram at the time.
“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.”