Former Wimbledon finalist suspended for one month after testing positive for cocaine

A former Wimbledon finalist has been suspended for one month after he was found positive for cocaine. The player in question is Nick Kyrgios, who has accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced. 

The 31-year-old provided a sample at the ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain, in June 2026 that later tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. He has been under a provisional suspension since 4 August 2026 as the drug is banned in the competition. 

Former Wimbledon finalist accepts one-month suspension for out-of-competition cocaine use 

Kyrgios told ITIA investigators that he used the substance socially during a night out several days before the tournament. An independent scientific expert consulted by the ITIA confirmed that the levels detected were consistent with out-of-competition use. As a result, the agency accepted that the violation occurred outside competition. 

Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, the standard sanction for this type of breach is three months. This can be reduced to one month if the athlete completes an approved treatment programme. Kyrgios has entered such a programme, meaning his suspension ended on 3 September 2026, subject to completion of the programme. 

The Australian player is therefore eligible to return to competition from 4 September. Prize money and ranking points from the Mallorca event will be forfeited. Kyrgios, a former world No. 13 and 2022 Wimbledon finalist, has struggled with injuries in recent years and played limited matches. When the provisional suspension was first made public in August, he described the positive test as a “huge mistake” and said it served as a wake-up call.

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