Nick Kyrgios accepts one-month ban after cocaine positive at Mallorca
Synopsis
Nick Kyrgios avoided a three-month ban by entering an ITIA-approved treatment programme after admitting to cocaine use at a Mallorca nightclub in the early hours of 20 June 2026. His one-month suspension is already over — but the conditions attached mean a single slip could add two more months to his exile from the tour.
Key Takeaways
Nick Kyrgios , 31 , accepted a one-month suspension from the ITIA after testing positive for cocaine at the Mallorca ATP 250 event in June 2026 .
He admitted to consuming cocaine out-of-competition in the early hours of 20 June 2026 at a nightclub in Magaluf .
An independent WADA-accredited laboratory expert confirmed the explanation was consistent with the cocaine level found in his sample.
The default ban for this breach is three months , reduced to one month after Kyrgios enrolled in an ITIA-approved treatment programme.
His suspension ran from 4 August to 3 September 2026 ; failure to complete the programme could trigger an additional two-month ban.
Prize money and ranking points from the Mallorca event have been forfeited.
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has accepted a one-month suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after admitting to out-of-competition cocaine use, with his ineligibility period backdated to 4 August 2026 and concluding on 3 September 2026. The 31-year-old former Wimbledon finalist tested positive for cocaine at an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain, held from 21 to 27 June 2026.
What Happened in Mallorca
Kyrgios was required to provide a urine sample for anti-doping testing under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) while competing in the men's singles draw in Mallorca. During a subsequent interview with ITIA investigators, he admitted to consuming cocaine out-of-competition in the early hours of 20 June 2026.
According to the ITIA's account, Kyrgios attended a party at 10 PM on 19 June at the hotel where he was staying for the tournament. He then travelled to a nightclub in Magaluf with others he had met at the party, where he used cocaine provided by another person, before returning to his hotel at approximately 3 AM on 20 June.
Scientific Finding and ITIA Decision
The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory. The expert confirmed that Kyrgios' account was consistent with the level of cocaine detected in his sample. On that basis, the ITIA accepted that the use occurred outside of competition — a distinction that carries significant weight under anti-doping rules.
Cocaine is prohibited in-competition under WADA regulations. Under the default framework, a breach of this type carries a three-month suspension, which can be reduced to one month if the athlete commits to an ITIA-approved treatment programme. Kyrgios has entered such a programme.
Terms of the Suspension
The ITIA's formal order stated: 'On the conditions set out in this decision, the Player is subject to a one-month period of ineligibility pursuant to TADP Article 10.2.4.1. The one-month (conditional) period of Ineligibility commenced on 4 August 2026 and will conclude on 3 September 2026 on which date he shall be free to return to tennis subject to the conditions set out in this issued decision.'
The ITIA further warned: 'If the Player fails to comply with those conditions, they will be subject to an additional two months of Ineligibility to be imposed by the ITIA in a subsequent decision.' Prize money and ranking points earned at the Mallorca event have been forfeited.
What This Means for Kyrgios
Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022 and has battled a series of injury and personal setbacks since, was provisionally suspended from 4 August 2026. His return to competitive tennis is now contingent on completing the approved treatment programme. This is the latest chapter in a turbulent career that has seen the Australian oscillate between flashes of world-class tennis and prolonged absences from the tour.
With the suspension technically concluded, all eyes will be on whether Kyrgios can sustain a return to the ATP Tour — and whether the treatment programme marks a turning point.
Point of View
But it sets a precedent worth scrutinising: an athlete can attend a tournament, use a prohibited substance the night before competing, test positive, and serve a suspension that is already over by the time it is publicly announced. The ITIA's transparency in publishing the full chronology is commendable, but the optics of a 30-day ban — already served — will fuel debate about whether recreational drug protocols in tennis are fit for purpose. For Kyrgios personally, the treatment programme is the real test; the suspension is a footnote.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Nick Kyrgios suspended by the ITIA?
Nick Kyrgios was suspended for one month after testing positive for cocaine during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca, Spain in June 2026. He admitted to consuming cocaine out-of-competition at a nightclub in Magaluf on the night of 19-20 June 2026.
How long is Kyrgios banned from tennis?
Kyrgios received a one-month conditional suspension, backdated to 4 August 2026 and concluding on 3 September 2026. He is free to return to tennis subject to completing an ITIA-approved treatment programme; non-compliance would add two further months to the ban.
Why was the ban reduced from three months to one month?
Under WADA rules, the default suspension for this type of breach is three months. It can be reduced to one month if the athlete commits to an approved treatment programme. Kyrgios enrolled in such a programme, qualifying him for the shorter sanction.
Was cocaine detected in-competition or out-of-competition?
The ITIA, after consulting an independent expert at a WADA-accredited laboratory, accepted that Kyrgios used cocaine out-of-competition. Cocaine is prohibited in-competition under WADA rules, and the out-of-competition classification was central to how the case was adjudicated.
What does Kyrgios lose as a result of the ban?
Kyrgios forfeits all prize money and ranking points earned at the Mallorca ATP 250 event where he was tested. His return to the tour is also conditional on completing the ITIA-approved treatment programme.
