Nick Kyrgios has admitted to making a “huge mistake” after testing positive for cocaine.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced on Wednesday that the former Wimbledon finalist has been provisionally suspended for failing a doping test.
The controversial Australian player gave a sample at an ATP tournament in Majorca in June that tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Provisional suspension
Cocaine is banned in competition, and Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended since August 4. He is banned from playing and attending tournaments pending the outcome of a tribunal that will assess his case.
In a long statement on his Instagram, Kyrgios said: “I wanted you to hear this from me first.
“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.
“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.
Kyrgios' statement
“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been. 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.
“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis - tennis chose me. But 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.
“However, the good news is that this has given me a wake up call. For the next 28 days, I’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.
“I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time, and most importantly the privacy of my family.
“I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better.”
