Nick Kyrgios cleared to return to professional tennis

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has lifted the provisional suspension on Australian player Nick Kyrgios, allowing him to compete again starting this Friday. The agency determined that his positive cocaine test was taken out of competition, resulting in a three-month ban that was reduced to one month on the condition that he complete an approved rehabilitation program. ITIA officials note that a positive test taken during competition could have carried a four-year ban.

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Kyrgios, a 31-year-old former Wimbledon runner-up, tested positive for cocaine while competing in an ATP 250 event in Mallorca in June. At the time of the suspension, he described the result as a “huge mistake” and a “wake-up call,” saying he would focus on “getting myself right.” Over the past two seasons he has entered only three tournaments per year, hampered by knee and wrist injuries that required surgery.

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Kyrgios publicly acknowledged the test as a serious lapse and pledged to address his personal issues. The ITIA’s decision emphasizes the out-of-competition nature of the test and the reduced sanction tied to rehabilitation. Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas, who faced Kyrgios in a contentious Wimbledon match in 2022, said he was not surprised by the result, noting he had heard about the situation before it was announced.

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• “Pretty much expected, to be honest,” — Stefanos Tsitsipas

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• “I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it,” — Stefanos Tsitsipas

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With his eligibility restored, Kyrgios is set to compete at the US Open this week. The decision underscores the ITIA’s approach to out-of-competition doping violations and may influence how other players address similar infractions. Observers will watch whether Kyrgios can translate his reinstatement into on-court performance after a period marked by injuries and limited play.

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