Nick Kyrgios enters treatment program after accepting one-month ban for cocaine use
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Australian free to play again after having suspension reduced
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ITIA accepts Kyrgios’s use of cocaine was outside of competition
Fallen Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has entered a treatment program after accepting a one-month ban for testing positive to cocaine.
After admitting his “huge mistake” when initially suspended for failing a drugs test on June 22 at an ATP 250 tournament in Spain, Kyrgios is allowed to compete again from Friday.
Kyrgios, who had been provisionally suspended since 4 August, had faced a ban ranging from a baseline three-month period to up to four years.
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During an interview with International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) investigators, Kyrgios explained his use of cocaine had occurred socially during a night out, days before he was due to play in Mallorca.
The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada)-accredited laboratory, who stated the explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample.
As a result, the ITIA accepted Kyrgios’s use of cocaine was outside of competition.
Under Wada rules, the default suspension for a breach of this type is three months, which can be further reduced to one month if the individual commits to a treatment program approved by the ITIA.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist also forfeited the 6570 euros he won in Mallorca for losing in the first round to countryman Adam Walton.
But his suspension was reduced for agreeing to enter a treatment program.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said Kyrgios, whose career world ranking peaked at No 13, could appeal against the provisional suspension but he opted against doing so.
“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” Kyrgios posted on Instagram last month. “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, who played only four official singles matches on the elite ATP Tour this year, has battled knee and wrist injuries in recent years and has all but conceded he is finished as a singles force.
The ITIA said Kyrgios was suspended for a positive test for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, with a World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory confirming the positive result on 17 July.
The 31-year-old was banned from playing, coaching or attending any tournaments sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours worldwide and national-level events in Australia.
Kyrgios last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon in London on July 2, when he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.
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