Kyrgios Gets Month Ban for Cocaine, Enters Treatment Program

Australia's Nick Kyrgios after a match in December 2025. (Reuters)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios after a match in December 2025. (Reuters)
TT

Kyrgios Gets Month Ban for Cocaine, Enters Treatment Program

Australia's Nick Kyrgios after a match in December 2025. (Reuters)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios after a match in December 2025. (Reuters)

Nick Kyrgios has accepted and served a one-month ban for taking cocaine, the tennis anti-doping agency said Friday, clearing his return to the court after completing a treatment program.

The temperamental Australian, who reached the final at Wimbledon in 2022, failed a doping test during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22.

Kyrgios was provisionally suspended on August 4 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the 31-year-old admitting he made "a huge mistake".

In a statement Friday, the doping agency said Kyrgios had explained his use of the drug occurred socially during a night out before he was due to play in Mallorca.

The ITIA consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory who found his explanation was consistent with the level of cocaine found in his sample.

"As a result, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios' use of cocaine was outside of competition," the ITIA said.

Under WADA rules, the default suspension for a breach of this type is three months, which can be reduced to one month if an individual commits to a treatment program.

"Kyrgios has entered into a treatment program," the ITIA added.

"As such, the player's suspension will end on September 3, 2026, subject to completion of the program. Prize-money and ranking points from the Mallorca event will be forfeited."

Boasting a big serve and booming ground strokes, Kyrgios was one of the sport's most dynamic players when at the top of his game.

He has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a high of 13 in the world in 2016.

At Wimbledon in 2022 he reached the championship match, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic.

Despite his natural talents that was as good as it got, with problems off court including severe injuries to his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone.

He has had numerous surgeries, the most serious a complete reconstruction of his right wrist in 2024 and is now ranked 918.

The Australian has barely played in recent years and was last on court as a wildcard entry in the men's doubles at Wimbledon in July this year, when he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.

Kyrgios, who has hinted previously at retirement, was contrite when the news of his cocaine use emerged last month.

"I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine," he posted on Instagram at the time. "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."



‘Special’ to Face Friend Perez in Champions League, Says Liverpool’s Iraola

UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)
TT

‘Special’ to Face Friend Perez in Champions League, Says Liverpool’s Iraola

UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola says it will be a "special" experience to go up against a Villarreal side managed by longtime friend Inigo Perez when the teams meet in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday.

The two Spaniards first knew each other as young players making their way at Athletic Bilbao before Iraola recruited Perez as his assistant coach when in charge of Madrid club Rayo Vallecano.

"For me it is a special game because Inigo is my friend," Iraola told a pre-match press conference at Anfield on Monday.

"We know each other since the academy years in Athletic Club, we played with each other in the first team. As soon as he retired, I was quick enough to grab him to help as an assistant. We've been through a lot of things together.

"It is a privilege for me to face him in a Champions League game. He knows me very well, he knows everything. It is a team that I follow, I know the players and it is going to be a little bit strange but in a good way."

Iraola, asked if he had spoken to Perez lately, said Tuesday's game had put a temporary restriction on their friendship.

"When these things happen (facing each other in a match), it is not good for relationships," the 44-year-old Iraola explained.

"I talk to him a lot, but when you know you are going to face each other, you stop talking because you leave the distance, you don't want to... Lately, it is probably the moment we have talked less.

"We normally call time to talk about La Liga, the Premier League, about football, other stuff, about our families. But now when the game gets closer, we haven't been in touch."

Iraola is in his first season in charge of Liverpool, having arrived at Anfield from Premier League rivals Bournemouth -- where he tried to bring Perez only for his friend to be denied a work permit by British authorities.

"We tried to take him to England, he was here but he couldn't work," said Iraola. "He didn't receive the work permit. We tried to do everything to convince the panel. I complained in the moment because I came with just two guys, but it has worked well for him also.

"Now he is coaching in the Champions League with Villarreal and I am so, so happy for him."


PSG-Barcelona Match in Champions League to Go Ahead Amid Shock Over France’s Violent Unrest

 Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
TT

PSG-Barcelona Match in Champions League to Go Ahead Amid Shock Over France’s Violent Unrest

 Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)

The Champions League showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will go ahead as planned on Tuesday in Paris, the French interior minister confirmed despite violent weekend protests.

Many French citizens have been left shocked by the images of violence that have drawn worldwide attention and highlighted the country's tense social climate. On Monday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting.

The violence targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses across the country, leading to more than 2,000 arrests.

Tuesday's match between PSG and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes will require a robust security deployment, with police forces already strained following weeks of student protests.

In May, Paris police detained dozens of people after violence disrupted celebrations of PSG's second Champions League title and a group tried to storm a police station.

Speaking after an emergency meeting with top government officials, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the possibility of calling off planned events was discussed, including football matches.

“But this does not apply to tomorrow’s match between PSG and FC Barcelona,” he said.

Nuñez added that other matches planned in European competitions this week would not be affected. He mentioned the match between Lille and Galatasaray scheduled on Wednesday in the northern city, where looters also vandalized shops over the weekend.

Asked whether the tensions in France could affect his team, PSG coach Luis Enrique said it would not, and that he was not scared.

“I'm not the right person to speak about this topic,” he added. “I'm here to speak about football. For sure we don't like this violence but that is how it is in society. So we just need to stay focused on the football match.”

Nuñez did not mention the NFL game in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. The NFL said last week it remains scheduled as planned. The teams are set to play Sunday at Stade de France in what would be the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris, where events are also planned for football fans during the week.

Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday, but French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay to respond to police needs in an emergency situation. Macron instructed Nuñez “to take all necessary steps to ensure full transparency about the failures in planning and intelligence-gathering that led to the violence.”

Lecornu said details of the areas to be placed under curfew will be provided later.

Nuñez acknowledged that authorities “lost control” in some major cities on Saturday, when hundreds of businesses were looted.


Raya Proud of Arsenal’s ‘Incredible’ Reaction After Third Straight Win

 Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)
Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)
TT

Raya Proud of Arsenal’s ‘Incredible’ Reaction After Third Straight Win

 Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)
Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya says the way the Premier League champions bounced back from their surprise defeat by Brighton last month with three straight wins since the international break has been "incredible".

Mikel Arteta's men, who visit Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, had several weeks to ponder their 3-0 loss to Brighton.

But since getting back together, they have made it three wins from three, with Noni Madueke's late goal securing a 1-0 success at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

"We came back very, very strong, especially after that tough defeat against Brighton and having 19 days since then to play a game," Raya told Arsenal's website.

"The way we responded, the way we played, the way we came back, is incredible, you know.

"So, delighted with the performances we have put in every single game. There are things to improve, of course, as always, but we just take the positives and we're looking forward to Wednesday now."

Madueke's 80th-minute deflected strike was Arsenal's only shot on target at the City Ground, but the manner of Arsenal's victory demonstrated their ongoing ability to grind out results -- a quality much in evidence during last season's title-winning triumph.

"(We showed) maturity and a lot of desire," Raya said. "Keep doing the right things and the ball will get into the net.

"We had experiences in the last two years where we drew 0-0 here (Forest), so I think we showed a lot of character to keep digging the result and in the end with a few crosses and a few of Bukayo's (Saka's) balls, the ball went in thanks to Noni.

"He's a special player and it's going to be a special goal for him to get the win at such a difficult ground and such a difficult team. So, I'm delighted for him."