"A huge mistake." Nick Kyrgios, tennis genius and unruly tycoon, and Jannik Sinner's biggest accuser during the Clostebol affair, has been suspended after testing positive for cocaine . The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the news. This is the latest episode in a career marked by excesses, injuries, and psychological problems.
The 31-year-old, born in Canberra, tested positive following a doping test at the Mallorca tournament on June 22. "On July 17, 2026, a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine," ITIA announced, recalling that the latter "is a stimulant and an illicit substance on the WADA prohibited list. Reduced sanctions apply for out-of-competition use."
The player has been suspended since August 4 and has not yet filed an appeal. In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios acknowledged he made "a huge mistake." "I apologize to my fans, my family, my sponsors, and all my loved ones. But most of all, I apologize to the children who follow me. I know what kind of example this sets, and I'm deeply disappointed in myself ," added the 2022 Wimbledon finalist. Numerous injuries have "significantly impacted him both physically and mentally" in recent years, causing him to plummet from 13th to 919th in the ATP rankings. "Accepting the idea that I'm nearing the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. I'm sorry," although "none of this justifies what I've done," he concluded.
Thus, while Sinner has yet to resolve his reservations about appearing at the US Open, the Australian is caught in a situation that feels like retaliation. When the Italian agreed to a three-month ban with WADA—from February to May 2025—for negligent contamination with Clostebol, Kyrgios called it "a bad day for tennis."
In addition to injuries, his career has often been marred by behavioral issues. Inappropriate comments directed at the crowd, referees, or opponents, along with unsportsmanlike conduct, have earned him numerous fines, including one for $113,000 in Cincinnati in 2019, suspensions, and even the requirement to consult a psychologist.
(Unioneonline)
