NICK KYRGIOS has accepted a one-month ban from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
With his provisional suspension starting on August 4, Kyrgios is now eligible to return to competition.
The former Wimbledon finalist, 31, was facing up to a three-month ban after benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine – was found in a sample he provided at the Mallorca Open in June.
Kyrgios told investigators that he used cocaine at a nightclub in Magaluf before the tournament.
His claim was supported by World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory experts who analysed the sample.
Kyrgios was given a lighter punishment by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) because he used the banned substance outside of competition, and agreed to enter a treatment programme.
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The former world No13, who lost in the first round to Adam Walton in Mallorca, has forfeited his ranking points and £5,650 prize money.
Kyrgios addressed the saga after his provisional suspension was announced last month, and pledged to take a four-week break from social media to “get myself right”.
He 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.
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“I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”
Kyrgios has only played four competitive singles matches this season.
And the last few years of his career have been stifled by knee and wrist injuries.
Four years on from his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the SW19 final, Kyrgios has plummeted to 919th in the men’s world rankings.
He admitted that his downward slide has been tough to deal with.
Kyrgios continued: “My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.
“At times I’ve felt hopeless and alone.
“However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call.”