Australia's Nick Kyrgios is free to return to tennis after anti-doping authorities ruled that his positive test for cocaine had been conducted out of competition.
The 31-year-old former Wimbledon runner-up tested positive for the drug while playing in an ATP 250 event in Mallorca in June and began a provisional suspension on Aug. 4. He is officially allowed to play again starting Friday.
Had the test been conducted in competition, Kyrgios could have faced a four-year ban. Instead, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) banned him for three months, reduced to one month on the provision that he undergo an approved rehabilitation program.
At the time of the suspension, Kyrgios had described his failed test as a "huge mistake" and described the situation as a "wake-up call," vowing to "focus on getting myself right."
Kyrgios has played just three tournaments in each of the past two years, struggling with knee and wrist injuries, both of which required surgery.
At the US Open this week, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas said he was not surprised at the failed test.
"Pretty much expected, to be honest," Tsitsipas said. "I am surprised it came so late, though."
"I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it," Tsitsipas said. "So what can I tell you? I will just tell you the truth. I knew about all of this before any announcement was made, and when I saw it on social media, I was, like, 'Here we go.' I kind of expected it, to be honest."
Tsitsipas and Kyrgios had a run-in at Wimbledon in 2022, calling the Australian a bully after a temper-fueled match.
Kyrgios went on to reach his only Grand Slam singles final the same year, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
