Nick Kyrgios Cleared to Return After One-Month Doping Ban

Nick Kyrgios has accepted and served a one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine during an ATP event in Mallorca, with the International Tennis Integrity Agency saying he is cleared to return to the court subject to completion of a treatment programme.

The Australian was provisionally suspended on August 4 after failing a doping test on June 22. The ITIA said the suspension ended on September 3, 2026, after Kyrgios entered a treatment programme that allowed the standard sanction for this type of anti-doping rule violation to be reduced.

The decision means Kyrgios can resume his playing career following a period in which he has competed only sparingly. His prize money and ranking points earned from the Mallorca event will be forfeited.

How the ITIA reached its decision

According to the ITIA, Kyrgios explained that his cocaine use had occurred socially during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca. The agency consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory, which found that his explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine detected in his sample.

The ITIA subsequently accepted that the use was outside competition. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, the default suspension for such a breach is three months. That penalty can be reduced to one month when a player commits to a treatment programme.

“Kyrgios has entered into a treatment programme,” the ITIA said, adding that the suspension would end on September 3, 2026, subject to completion of that programme. The agency’s ruling resolves the immediate eligibility question around the 31-year-old’s return to professional tennis.

Kyrgios had already addressed the positive test publicly after the news emerged last month. In an Instagram post, he said he had made “a huge mistake” and accepted responsibility. He apologised to his fans, family, sponsors and those close to him, while also saying he was disappointed in himself because of the example it set for younger followers.

A return after limited recent court time

The clearance comes at a significant point for Kyrgios, whose recent playing schedule has been restricted by a series of physical problems. The Australian has dealt with injuries to his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone, and has undergone multiple surgeries.

The most serious of those procedures was a complete reconstruction of his right wrist in 2024. Those setbacks have limited the amount of tennis he has played in recent years and contributed to his current ranking of 918.

His most recent appearance came at Wimbledon in July, where he entered the men’s doubles as a wildcard alongside Alexander Bublik. The pair were beaten in the first round. Kyrgios has also previously hinted at retirement, adding further uncertainty around when and how often he may play next.

What Kyrgios brings back to the ATP Tour

At his best, Kyrgios has been one of the ATP Tour’s most dynamic players, known for a big serve and powerful ground strokes. He has won seven singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 13 in 2016.

His deepest run at a Grand Slam came at Wimbledon in 2022, when he reached the championship match before losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets. That final remains the high point of his major-championship record.

The ITIA’s announcement does not set out a next tournament for Kyrgios. It does, however, remove the suspension barrier following the Mallorca test, with his eligibility tied to completing the treatment programme. Any next step on court will come after an extended period of limited competition, injury rehabilitation and a one-month ban that has now been served.