Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios was allowed to return to competition on Friday (September 4) after accepting a 1-month ban from competition for using cocaine and participating in a treatment program.
The 31-year-old tennis player - who reached the 2022 Wimbledon final - did not pass a doping test at an ATP system tournament in Mallorca on June 22.
He was temporarily suspended from competition by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on August 4 and admitted that he had made "a big mistake".
The announcement of the anti-doping agency said that Kyrgios explained that the use of this banned substance took place at a social party the night before he played in Mallorca.
ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a laboratory recognized by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), with the conclusion that his explanation was consistent with the cocaine content found in the sample.
As a result, ITIA accepted that Kyrgios' use of cocaine occurred outside of the competition time," ITIA said.
According to WADA regulations, the default suspension penalty for this type of violation is 3 months, but it can be reduced to 1 month if the individual commits to participating in the treatment program.
Kyrgios has participated in a treatment program," ITIA added.
Therefore, the suspension penalty for this player will end on September 3, 2026, with the condition of completing the treatment program. Prize money and ranking points from the tournament in Mallorca will be cancelled.
Possessing serves and powerful hits, Kyrgios won 7 men's singles titles in the ATP Tour system and once rose to 13th place in the world in 2016. Currently, he is ranked 918th.
His most impressive achievement was at Wimbledon 2022, when he reached the final and lost to Novak Djokovic after 4 sets.
Despite possessing innate talent, it was also the peak of his career due to successive injuries that heavily affected him.
He has undergone many surgeries, the most serious of which was a full right wrist reconstruction in 2024.
Kyrgios's last time competing was with a wildcard in the men's doubles event at Wimbledon in July this year and lost in the first round to Alexander Bublik.
Kyrgios expressed regret when news of his cocaine use was revealed last month.
Recently, I failed the banned substance test in Mallorca after being tested positive for cocaine," he shared on Instagram at the time.
I made a big mistake and take full responsibility for this.
I apologize to fans, family, sponsors and all my loved ones. Especially, I apologize to the young children who are watching me.
I understand the example that this action creates and feel extremely disappointed in myself" - Kyrgios said.
