Nick Kyrgios banned from tennis after testing positive for cocaine

The player released a statement

The former world number 13 and Wimbledon finalist provided a sample at a ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain on 22 June 2026.

Almost a month later, on 17 July 2026, the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, was confirmed by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory

The 31-year-old released a statement on social media which read: "I wanted you to hear this from me first.

"I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. 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.

"I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been. The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.

His full statement. Credit: Instagram screenshot.

"I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis - tennis chose me. But letting go of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. At times I’ve felt helpless and alone.

"None of that excuses what I did.

"However, the good news is that this has given me a wake up call. For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.

"I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family.

"I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better.

"Nick"