Nick Kyrgios is eligible to return to competitive tennis immediately after accepting a one-month ban for testing positive for cocaine, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The 31-year-old Australian was provisionally suspended on August 4 after a sample collected during the Mallorca Open in June contained benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Immediate Eligibility After One-Month Sanction
Magaluf Nightclub Exposure and the ITIA Investigation
According to investigators from the ITIA, Kyrgios explained that he used the substance at a nightclub in Magaluf during the early hours of June 20. He competed in his first-round match at the Mallorca tournament two days later, losing in straight sets to compatriot Adam Walton.
Reduced Penalty Tied to Treatment Program
Following consultation with an independent expert, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios used the substance out of competition. While the violation could have carried a maximum three-month ban under the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list—where cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse—the penalty was reduced to one month because Kyrgios entered a treatment program.
Forfeiture of Prize Money and Ranking Slump
As part of the sanctions, Kyrgios will forfeit his prize money of 6,570 euros (approximately £5,650). His current singles ranking has slipped to 918th in the world following a prolonged absence from the tour.
Social Media Hiatus and Physical Toll
When the positive test and provisional suspension were made public, Kyrgios announced he would step away from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on his well-being. In a statement posted to Instagram, the Australian addressed the physical and mental toll of recent seasons, noting that recurring knee and wrist injuries had limited him to just four singles matches this year.
“My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do,” Kyrgios wrote in his statement, adding that coming to terms with the end of his career had been difficult, though he stressed that his personal struggles did not excuse his actions.
Career Resume and Unconfirmed Return Timeline
Kyrgios last competed professionally in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he partnered with Alexander Bublik and lost in the first round. Throughout his career, the Canberra native has claimed seven ATP Tour singles titles and reached the Wimbledon singles final in 2022, falling to Novak Djokovic in four sets. That same year, he and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis captured the Australian Open men’s doubles title.
With his one-month suspension now served, Kyrgios is clear to enter and compete in upcoming ATP tournaments.
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