Kyrgios apologises to family, fans after testing positive to banned substance
Tennis star Nick Kyrgios has taken to social media to take break his silence, take full responsibility and apologise to his family members, friends, his sponsors and fans after testing positive to a banned substance (cocaine).
The 31-year-old Australian tendered an open apology for the first time weeks after he tested positive test for a banned substance benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, from a sample taken during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca in June.
In a post shared on his Instagram page, Kyrgios who is now serving a suspension which was slammed on him by the Australian Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said he made a big mistake.
“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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Kyrgios also noted in his post that he may have been forced to use the banned substance because his body hasn’t been able to do what his mind expects it to do in recent times.
“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.” He concluded.
The flashy tennis player now faces a ban of up to four years if a tribunal finds the drug was used in-competition, however, the ban could be reduced to a maximum of three months if he proves it was used out-of-competition.
