Nick Kyrgios provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine

[p]The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced ‌the suspension of the 31-year-old following a positive test for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, ‌from a sample taken during an ATP 250 event in ‌Mallorca in June.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kyrgios-nick/fudxgwDF/"]Kyrgios[/a], who reached a career-high rank of 13, has been ‌provisionally suspended since August 4 after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory ‌confirmed the presence of the banned stimulant on July 17.[/p][p][b]"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," Kyrgios said on Instagram.[/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. I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed ​in myself."[/b][/p][p]Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned in competition under ⁠tennis anti-doping rules.[/p][p]Kyrgios said ​he made no excuses but painted a picture of a player struggling with the twilight of his career, citing the mental toll of recent injuries.[/p][embed guid="2bf26213-1a81-4b2f-8885-c996a132a982" url="https://x.com/itia_tennis/status/2089992424802132325" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"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," he added.[/b][/p][p][b]"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.[/b][/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][p]While suspended, Kyrgios cannot play in, coach at, or ‌attend any events organised by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association.[/p][p]The Australian has not appealed the provisional suspension and said he would step away from social media and public life for 28 days to "focus on getting myself ⁠right."[/p][p][b]"I'm sorry. I'll do the ⁠work and come back better," ‌he concluded.[/b][/p]