Nick Kyrgios cleared to return after ITIA determines that cocaine use happened outside of competition

Australian Nick Kyrgios has been cleared to return to tennis starting on Friday, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced Thursday. Kyrgios had been suspended from playing last month after testing positive for cocaine in June.

According to the ITIA, Kyrgios has accepted a one-month provisional suspension for the violation after the agency determined that he took the drug outside of competition. Kyrgios was able to reduce his suspension from three months to one month by committing to an ITIA-approved treatment program.

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While competing in an ATP event in Mallorca, Spain in June, Kyrgios provided a sample that tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Cocaine is banned in-game in tennis, meaning that the 31-year-old was facing up to a four-year ban for the violation.

Kyrgios told ITIA investigators that he had used the cocaine as part of a social night out before he was set to play in Mallorca. The agency said that it confirmed the story with an independent scientific expert, who said the amount of cocaine found in Kyrgios’ sample was consistent with that explanation.

His provisional suspension began on Aug. 4; ITIA says that his suspension will officially end on Thursday. Prize money from the competition in Mallorca, where Kyrgios ended in the Round of 32, will be forfeited, per the agency.

After ITIA announced Kyrgios’ suspension on Aug. 19, the Australian confirmed the suspension in a message on Instagram, saying that he had made “a huge mistake” and apologizing to fans, family, sponsors and those who look up to him.

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“I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself,” he wrote.

Kyrgios peaked at No. 13 in the ATP rankings in 2016, with his last significant Grand Slam appearances coming in 2022. Various injuries have kept Kyrgios largely on the sideline throughout the past few ATP seasons, with the Australian only appearing in a few major tournaments last year.