Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios receives one-month ban for cocaine

[p]The 31-year-old, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, failed a doping test during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22nd.[/p][p]He was provisionally suspended on August 4th by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), admitting he made [b]"a huge mistake."[/b][/p][embed guid="ea66fc9c-5c9a-4a9c-8ed5-e2c0ada26f66" url="https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2095657438062256249?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]In a statement Friday, the doping agency said Kyrgios had explained his use of the drug occurred socially during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca.[/p][p]The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory, who found his explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample.[/p][p][b]"As a result, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios' use of cocaine was outside of competition,"[/b] the ITIA said.[/p][p]Under WADA rules, the default suspension for a breach of this type is three months, which can be reduced to one month if an individual commits to a treatment programme.[/p][p][b]"Kyrgios has entered into a treatment programme," [/b]the ITIA added.[/p][p][b]"As such, the player's suspension will end on September 3, 2026, subject to completion of the programme. Prize-money and ranking points from the Mallorca event will be forfeited."[/b][/p][p]Boasting a big serve and booming groundstrokes, Kyrgios has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a high of 13 in the world in 2016. He is now ranked 918.[/p][p]His finest performance was on the grass at Wimbledon in 2022, when he reached the championship match, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic.[/p][embed guid="a5f9aced-a976-47b1-8c65-3595d0462dd8" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO52Y8SOIUU" social-type="youtube" /][p]Despite his natural talents that is as good as it gets, a series of injuries taking their toll.[/p][p]He has had numerous surgeries, the most serious being a complete reconstruction of his right wrist in 2024.[/p][p]The Australian last played as a wildcard entry in the men's doubles at Wimbledon in July this year, when he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.[/p][p]Kyrgios was contrite when the news of his cocaine use emerged last month.[/p][p][b]"I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,"[/b] he posted on Instagram at the time. [b]"I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.[/b][/p][p][b]"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.[/b][/p][p][b]"I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."[/b][/p]