Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios accepted a one-month anti-doping suspension after testing positive for cocaine during the Mallorca Championships in June 2026, according to a statement released by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Mallorca Positive Test and Provisional Suspension
According to the ITIA, Kyrgios tested positive for benzoilecgonina, a metabolite of cocaine, during an ATP Tour event in Mallorca, Spain, on June 22, 2026. Under the penalties assessed by the governing bodies, the 31-year-old athlete forfeited the 6,570 euros in prize money and all ranking points he accumulated at the tournament, where he fell in the first round to compatriot Adam Walton.
Investigation and Out-of-Competition Ruling
During formal interviews with ITIA investigators, Kyrgios explained that he consumed the substance socially during a night out prior to his scheduled matches in Spain. To verify the timeline and validity of the player’s account, the ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert from a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory. According to that expert review, the metabolite levels detected in the sample were entirely consistent with the player’s explanation. Consequently, the ITIA officially accepted that the consumption occurred out of competition.
Treatment Program and Sanction Reduction
Under WADA guidelines, standard default penalties for such anti-doping rule violations carry a three-month ban from the sport. However, regulations permit a reduction to a one-month term if the athlete agrees to participate in and complete a specialized treatment program approved by the ITIA. Kyrgios agreed to enter the program, allowing his sanction to conclude on September 3, 2026, subject to the successful completion of the mandated treatment terms. With the penalty served, the former world No. 13 is officially cleared to return to the ATP circuit, though his precise tournament schedule for the hard-court swing following the US Open remains unconfirmed.
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