SYDNEY, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended under anti-doping rules after testing positive for cocaine.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said in a statement on Wednesday that testing confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in a sample provided by the 31-year-old Kyrgios during a tournament on the Spanish island of Mallorca in June.
The agency said a mandatory provisional suspension has been in place since Aug. 4, banning Kyrgios from playing in, coaching at or attending any events organized by World Tennis, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) or any national association.
Kyrgios, who achieved a career-high singles ranking of 13th in 2016, said in a statement posted on social media that he had made a mistake and took full responsibility.
"I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me," he said.
"Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed with myself."
He said the incident occurred following years of injuries that took a "huge toll" physically and mentally.
Kyrgios has won seven career singles titles on the ATP Tour and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022.
Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, any athlete who tests positive for cocaine in competition can be banned for up to four years. ■