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Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has issued an apology on Instagram, admitting he made a huge mistake and taking full responsibility for his actions after testing positive for cocaine.
Recall that the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the suspension of the 31-year-old following a positive test for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, from a sample taken during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca in June.
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Reacting to the development, Kyrgios took full responsibility in an Instagram statement, apologizing to fans, family, and young followers for his mistake.
He pointed to mental and physical exhaustion from severe knee and wrist injuries, reflecting on the difficulty of nearing the end of his career, and announced a 28-day break from public life and social media to recalibrate.
“I wanted you to hear this from me first. I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.
“I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”
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“My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than lever imagined.
“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis – tennis chose me. But letting go of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. At times I’ve felt helpless and alone.”
