\n<\/p>\n
In a lengthy statement on Instagram, Kyrgios said the last few years of injuries had taken “a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically”.<\/p>\n
“My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do,” he wrote.<\/p>\n
“Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.<\/p>\n
“None of that excuses what I did.”<\/p>\n
Kyrgios said he would be stepping away from social media and public life for the next 28 days to “focus on getting myself right”.<\/p>\n
Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list.<\/p>\n
Reduced sanctions apply for athletes who test positive for the substance out of competition.<\/p>\n
However, Kyrgios’ sample was submitted during a tournament in which he played singles, ultimately losing in the first round to Adam Walton.<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me,” Kyrgios added.<\/p>\n
“Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”<\/p>\n
Kyrgios has long been a controversial figure in tennis.<\/p>\n
His behaviour on court has been widely criticised and he has been given numerous large fines for smashing racquets, making audible obscenities and arguing with the umpire.<\/p>\n
In 2023, he admitted assaulting<\/a> an ex-girlfriend two years earlier. He avoided a criminal conviction.<\/p>\n He was criticised further for making a series of comments which have been considered misogynistic.<\/p>\n In 2024 he shared a post from controversial influencer Andrew Tate. He later said he had gone “to all lengths”<\/a> to distance himself from the self-proclaimed misogynist.<\/p>\n Kyrgios was also critical<\/a> of the handling of two high-profile anti-doping cases involving top players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, calling them “disgusting” for tennis.<\/p>\n Kyrgios has won seven ATP Tour singles titles and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic.<\/p>\n He and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis won the Australian Open men’s doubles title together in 2022.<\/p>\n Kyrgios has also spoken about his struggles with mental health, saying he “genuinely contemplated” suicide<\/a> and spent time in a psychiatric hospital in London after losing at Wimbledon in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n