Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for a cocaine metabolite, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The development made the Australian player one of the most searched sports names in India on August 21.
The Guardian reported that Kyrgios provided a sample during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca on June 22. A World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of the metabolite benzoylecgonine in July, and the provisional suspension has been in force since August 4.
Spain’s EFE news agency also reported the suspension and said the substance is prohibited in competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. The report noted that Kyrgios has the right to appeal the provisional decision and had not done so at the time of publication.
Kyrgios acknowledged the development on social media and described it as a major mistake, according to the coverage. A provisional suspension is not the same as a final disciplinary ruling. The anti-doping process can include notification, a response from the player, a hearing and an appeal, depending on the case.
The case has attracted attention partly because Kyrgios has previously criticized other players during doping controversies. That context explains the online reaction but does not alter the formal process. The relevant facts remain the sample date, laboratory finding, provisional suspension and the player’s available right to challenge the decision.
