Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended after failing a doping test, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced.
The Australian player gave a sample at an ATP tournament in Majorca in June that tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
“I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it,” Kyrgios said in a post on Instagram on Wednesday.
“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.”
Cocaine is banned in competition and former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended since August 4.
Kyrgios is banned from playing and attending tournaments pending the outcome of a tribunal that will assess his case.
The ITIA said Kyrgios can also appeal the suspension “but has not done so to date”.
The 31-year-old, a Wimbledon finalist in 2022, has been plagued by injuries over the last four years which has seen him play only twice in the main draw of a Grand Slam since that run in South West London.
Nick Kyrgios was runner-up in the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 2022, losing in the final to Novak Djokovic
Kyrgios has played just four singles matches this season, adding in his Instagram post that he’s felt “helpless and alone” during his battles with injury.
“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been,” he said. “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… 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.”
Kyrgios is currently ranked 919th in the world. He was given a wild card to play doubles at Wimbledon last month and lost in the first round with partner Alexander Bublik.
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