Tennis player Nick Kyrgios tests positive for cocaine
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The 31-year-old provided a sample during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain, on June 22, 2026. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine on July 17.
Cocaine is a stimulant and substance of abuse on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned in competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. Reduced sanctions apply when substances of abuse are taken outside competition.
Due to the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory and has been in effect since August 4. Kyrgios has the right to appeal the suspension but has not done so to date.
Kyrgios, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of No. 13 in October 2016, is barred from playing in, coaching at or attending events organized or sanctioned by World Tennis, the WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams or any national association while suspended.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that the Women’s Tennis Association had introduced mandatory genetic screening to determine players’ eligibility to compete in women’s tournaments.
