Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after failing a doping test, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Australian gave a sample at an ATP tournament in Mallorca in June that tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, the ITIA said.
Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and is banned in competition.
A WADA lab confirmed the presence of the banned stimulant in Kyrgios’ sample on July 17, and a provisional suspension has been in place since August 4, the ITIA said.
“While suspended Kyrgios is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association,” the agency added.
What did Kyrgios say?
Kyrgios apologized to his fans in a statement on social media, saying he took “full responsibility.”
“I made a huge mistake,” he said. “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.”
Kyrgios has won seven singles titles on the ATP tour and reached number 13 in the world in 2016. His best performance was perhaps the Wimbledon final in 2022, where he lost in four sets to Novak Djokovic.
More to follow…
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